City Hall – Today the New York City Council will vote on legislation designed to combat age discrimination throughout the workforce. Age discrimination is one of the most prevalent forms of discrimination in the workplace and can start as early as age 40. Today’s package aims to provide desperately needed support for older New Yorkers and tools to protect them as they remain in the workforce for longer periods of time.

The package includes five bills including one that creates the first-ever Center for Older Workforce Development, an office that is dedicated to combatting ageism in the workplace and will develop our older adult workforce. The Council will also vote on legislation to require the Department for the Aging (DFTA) and the Department of the Aging Advisory Council to serve as a resource to this newly created Center for Older Workforce Development and provide recommendations on how the city can address age discrimination in the workplace. Another bill requires the New York City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) to study age discrimination in the workplace and report its findings to the Council.

The Council will also vote on a budget transparency resolution, Introduction 2136, as well as an Article XI property tax exemption, several land use items and the reappointment of Rodney Pepe-Souvenir to the NYC Board of Elections.

AGING

Creates the Center for Older Workforce Development

Introduction No. 1694-A, sponsored by Council Member Margaret Chin, would create the Center for Older Workforce Development, an office dedicated to combating ageism in the workplace and to developing the older workforce.

The Center would be established and placed by the Mayor and led by a Director, whose powers and duties include: advising and assisting the mayor in coordinating agencies involved in workforce development programs for older adults; assisting older adults in joining or re-joining the workforce; creating a centralized workforce development website that assists with career building and workforce development for older adults; and promoting the inclusion and retention of older adults in the municipal workforce. The Center would also be required to submit an annual report to the Mayor and to the City Council on its activities.

This legislation would take effect 120 days after it becomes law.

Related to recommendations regarding age discrimination and developing the older adult workforce

Introduction No. 1693-A, sponsored by Council Member Margaret Chin, would require the Department for the Aging (DFTA) to provide guidance and support to the Center for Older Workforce Development, as created by Introduction No. 1694-A.

This billwould also require the DFTA Advisory Council to develop recommendations on how the city can address age discrimination in the workplace and help develop the older adult workforce. The Advisory Council would be required to submit a report to the Mayor, the Speaker, and the Center for Older Workforce Development with its recommendations and findings in December 2021 and biennially thereafter.

Requires the city to study age discrimination in the workplace

Introduction No. 1695-A, sponsored by Council Member Margaret Chin, would require the New York City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) to conduct a two-year study related to age discrimination in the workplace. Beginning January 2022, for a period of two years, CCHR would design and implement a variety of methods to assess the presence of age discrimination in the workplace, including workplace and employment practices, technologies, and policies.

CCHR would be required to report on the findings of its two-year study and submit the report to the Speaker on or before September 30, 2024. The report would include, among other things, a summary of the initiatives taken during this two-year study, a description of the instances of age discrimination found, and recommendations to help the city address and combat age discrimination going forward.

This legislation would take effect immediately.

“Age discrimination is a real problem that affects older New Yorkers but is frequently overlooked and is seldom reported. My package of bills will help to change this by attacking age discrimination with data-driven methods and resources. Our solution is threefold: requiring the Department for the Aging’s advisory council to address age discrimination, creating a Center for Older Adult Workforce Development, and mandating the city’s Commission on Human Rights to conduct a two-year study on age discrimination and issue recommendations in an annual report. During a national pandemic and recession, we must focus on eliminating barriers to unemployment. I am proud to be an advocate for older New Yorkers and am confident that this legislation will serve as a powerful resource to help obtain and retain good-paying jobs,” said Council Member Margaret Chin.

Requires the creation of an anti-discrimination poster that includes age discrimination

Introduction No. 1684-A, sponsored by Council Member Diana Ayala, would require the City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) to create an anti-discrimination poster that includes age discrimination, and to provide additional age discrimination resources on its website. Through this legislation, city agencies would be required to display the poster in employee common areas.

This bill would take effect 120 days after it becomes law.

Requires all city agencies to provide age discrimination training to employees biennially.

Introduction No. 1685-A, sponsored by Council Member Diana Ayala, would require all city agencies to provide age discrimination training to their employees every two years. The training would be developed by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services and the Commission on Human Rights.

This bill would take effect 120 days after it becomes law.

“Age discrimination is an unethical practice that unfortunately is all too real and much to common.  Unfortunately, this type of discrimination is often hard to detect said Councilmember Ayala, that is why I am proud to have introduced Intro’s 1684 and 1685, both of which offer preventive measures to educate and protect all age groups in the workforce.  I look forward to joining my colleagues and passing these bills today,” said Council Member Diana Ayala.

FINANCE

Introduction No. 2136, sponsored by Council Member Daniel Dromm (by request of the Mayor), would amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to authorizing an increase in the amount to be expended annually in two business improvement districts

The Council will vote on a budget transparency resolution and an Article XI property tax exemption for 1402 York Avenue in Council Member Ben Kallos’s district to create ten units of affordable housing.

LAND USE

505 West 134^th Street Cluster, HPD is seeking Urban Development Action Area Project (UDAPP) disposition of City-owned land, and an Article XI tax exemption to facilitate the preservation of 3 buildings, and 69 units of affordable homeownership in Council Member Mark Levine’s district.

110-40 Saultell Avenue Rezoning, Tuchman Associates, LLC, is seeking a zoning map amendment to facilitate the development of a new 6 story plus cellar mixed-use community facility and residential building with approximately 25 total units of housing, of which 6 of the units will be affordable. The Council has modified this application to remove MIH Option 2 and keep MIH Option 1 mapped on the project area in Council Member Francisco Moya’s district. 

###