New York Note – Congressional Maps, Reparations Commission, NYC Power 100

March 4, 2024

NYS Legislature Finalizes Congressional District Lines

Last Wednesday, the New York State Legislature approved the proposed Congressional maps, and Governor Hochul signed the maps into law. The Assembly approved the maps 115-33, and the Senate approved the maps 45-17, with the votes primarily going along party lines. This followed a rejection of the bipartisan Independent Redistricting Commission’s map proposals last Monday. Democrats did not approve the IRC’s lines, but made very minimal changes to their suggested lines. These lines will remain in place until redistricting occurs once again after the census in 2030.

NYS Creates Commission to Study Reparations and Racial Justice

Last Thursday, New York officially created the State’s Commission to Study Reparations and Racial Justice. The Governor, Assembly, and Senate each selected three members for the nine-member panel. Governor Hochul appointed Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and Executive Director of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies; Timothy Hogues, state Department of Civil Services Commissioner and president of New York’s Civil Service Commission; and Linda Brown-Robinson, Director of the New York State NAACP Western Region. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins appointed Darrick Hamilton, director of the Institute on Race, Power, and Political Economy at the New School; Linda Tarrant-Reid, Executive Director of the Lincoln Park Conservancy; and Seanelle Hawkins, President and CEO of the Urban League of Rochester. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie appointed Ron Daniels, Founder and President of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century; Lurie Daniel Favors, Executive Director at the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College; and Deborah Jenkins, founder of the Faith at Work Christian Church. The Commission will have one year to deliver findings and recommendations to the Governor and the legislature.

City and State NY’s 2024 New York City Power 100

Katie Schwab and Rose Christ, Co-Chairs of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies’ NY Practice, have been named to City & State NY’s 2024 New York City Power 100. The list honors powerful New Yorkers shaping the future of the City. Schwab and Christ have served as co-chairs of the NY Practice since 2022.

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About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies

Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.

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