New York will establish a new commission to tackle the needs of the state’s rapidly growing population of Asian American and Pacific Islander residents under a new law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul last week.
Queens Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar, the bill’s sponsor and the first South Asian-American woman elected to the state Legislature, says the commission will address the “unique needs” of AAPI New Yorkers.
Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial group in the city, state, and country. More than 2 million residents of Asian descent live in New York — the majority in New York City. Asian Americans now comprise more than 10% of the state’s population and 7% of the country’s.
“The commission is like a think tank within our state government that will constantly work on the ways that government can better serve the Asian population,” Rajkumar said, adding that the group would be a “bridge” between government and Asian communities.
The group will be made up of 15 members chosen by the governor and state legislative leaders, but it won’t launch until at least next year. It’s tasked with boosting awareness of state and local resources available to Asian American and Pacific Islander individuals and communities, developing programs to honor those communities, and educating the public about Asian American issues and culture.
The group also aims to raise awareness of anti-Asian hate crimes. The commission may also help more Asian Americans run for office and provide more granular ethnic data on the state’s diverse Asian American population, Rajkumar said.
Hochul signed the bill establishing the commission after a group of 40 state lawmakers and nearly 50 Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations added their names to a letter from Rajkumar calling for the governor’s approval.
Hochul vetoed a version of the bill last year, citing funding concerns. But this year, the state budget includes $1 million for the commission, Rajkumar said.
“The…
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