City buildings lit up for Juneteenth (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when Black Americans who had been enslaved in Texas finally received word that President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring them free two years earlier on January 1, 1863. 

It’s easy to imagine the hopes and dreams, long held within, that finally were released into the universe, and the disappointment that surely followed when Black Americans realized that freedom

Out to vote (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

As the ballots turn this fall, New York City voters will decide the fates of three proposed amendments to the City Charter intended to lay the groundwork for greater racial equity.

Voters throughout the five boroughs are able to flip their ballots and vote "yes" or "no" on three separate questions to, respectively, codify a statement of equity and racial justice principles as a new preamble to the City Charter; establish a city government office dedicated to racial equity and require a regularly-updated racial justice plan from city

Racial justice bills set to be signed by the mayor (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

October 13, 2022 - Max Politics Podcast: Racial Justice Proposals on the New York City Ballot

New York City voters can approve or disapprove three proposed City Charter amendments on the 2022 general election ballot. Questions 2-4 on the ballot for city voters (Question 1 is on the statewide Environmental Bond Act) are proposals from the

The mayor's commission has decided what to offer voters (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayor's Office)

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Racial Justice Commission, created to advance racial equity through structural changes to the city charter, voted Thursday to approve three proposals that will appear on the November 2022 general election ballot.

The three proposals would establish a new preamble to the City Charter; create new racial equity oversight bodies and a citywide racial equity plan; and establish a new measure of

Deputy Mayor Phil Thompson (photo: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)

The Racial Justice Commission convened by Mayor Bill de Blasio to revise the City Charter in pursuit of greater racial equity is nearing the end of its work and is considering several proposals that may end up on the ballot in the 2022 general election. The commission will vote on those proposals on December 3 – whatever it passes will be binding and appear on next year’s ballot – and issue its final report on December 13.

The ideas are broad changes to city government and its

The mayor in the Bronx (photo: Ed Reed/Mayor's Office)

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s racial justice commission, which he officially created in March to confront and eliminate structural and institutional racism in the city and doubles as a New York City Charter revision commission, will release proposals for the 2022 general election ballot at the end of this year, just as the mayor ends his second term and leaves office.

The racial justice commission, which will hold its first public input hearing on Thursday, is a first-of-its-kind commission

Jennifer Jones Austin at NYPD headquarters (photo: @FPWA)

October 21, 2020 - Max & Murphy Podcast: Jennifer Jones Austin on Police and Prison Reform

Jennifer Jones Austin, longtime CEO of FPWA, joined the show to discuss FPWA's anti-poverty work and her roles on an NYPD reform commission and as chair of the New York City Board of Correction.

Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think -- we're on Twitter @TweetBenMaxand ...

(photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

Black communities in New York have historically been more likely to be undercounted by the U.S. Census Bureau, meaning fewer federal resources and political underrepresentation for those who are often the most vulnerable members of the population and those who have often been disenfranchised and discriminated against. It’s a trend that city officials are hoping to counter in this year’s Census, with the help of nonprofit community-based organizations, and grassroots organizers. On Monday, at a