The Ali Forney Center - Honoring Juneteenth: The Ongoing Fight for Equality

 

Each June 19th, the day on which news of emancipation reached the last group of enslaved African Americans in Texas, we reflect on the ongoing struggle for equality and justice. We reflect on the importance of resilience, hope, and the complexities that underscore the fight for equality.

At the Ali Forney Center, we are well aware that this fight for justice is far from over. Our mission is to protect LGBTQ+ youth from the harms of homelessness and empower their futures – a pursuit intrinsically connected to the intersecting challenges of racism, homophobia, and transphobia. 90% of the clients who arrive at our doors are Black youth and young people of color who face systemic barriers that perpetuate cycles of poverty, discrimination, and homelessness.

The fight against these systemic challenges requires hope, resilience, and community. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the freedoms celebrated on Juneteenth are fully realized for everyone, regardless of race, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

This Juneteenth, we ask you for your support and solidarity. Only together can we work to build a future where all are guaranteed opportunities to safe, affirming, and successful futures.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to justice and equality.

Sincerely,

Your Friends at the Ali Forney Center

Happy Juneteenth!

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES CITY HALL, MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS TO BE LIT RED, BLACK, AND GREEN IN HONOR OF JUNTEENTH

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that City Hall and other municipal buildings will be lit in the Pan-African flag colors of red, black, and green tonight in honor of Juneteenth. During his first year in office, Mayor Adams designated Juneteenth a paid city holiday for the first time in New York City history. Earlier this month, in honor of Juneteenth, Mayor Adams and the Landmarks Preservation Commission announced the creation of “More Than a Brook: Brooklyn Abolitionist Heritage Walk,” an interactive audio tour that explores Brooklyn’s history as a critical neighborhood for the National Abolitionist Movement and the Underground Railroad. The audio tour can be accessed on a smartphone, tablet, or other device through the Landmark Preservation Commission’s (LPC) website. Finally, yesterday, LPC voted to designate the Frederick Douglass Memorial Park in Oakwood Heights, Staten Island as an individual landmark. The Frederick Douglass Memorial Park is the only existing non-sectarian cemetery founded by — and specifically for — New York City’s Black community.

 

“Juneteenth is a moment to reflect and remember the countless contributions Black Americans have made, and continue to make to this country,” said Mayor Adams. “As the second Black mayor of New York, I want to lift up our ancestors' legacies with the reverence that they deserve. Juneteenth is a day that all New Yorkers, and all Americans, should be proud to honor — when the promise of freedom finally started to match Black Americans’ lived reality. But, as we all know, that was only the start of a longer struggle. Today, let us honor our inspiring and troubled past, and continue to build on the progress we have made.”

 

Although the Emancipation Proclamation declared the end of slavery in 1863, Black people in areas controlled by the Confederacy were still treated as slaves for two additional years. On June 19, 1865, Union troops marched into Galveston, Texas and freed those still in bondage; the nation now celebrates that day as Juneteenth — the moment where promises and reality finally converged.

 

In addition to City Hall, the following city buildings will be lit up red, black and green starting tonight and tomorrow at sundown:

• Bronx Borough Hall: 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451
• The David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building: 1 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007
• DSNY Salt Shed Complex: 336 Spring St, New York, NY 10013

In April, Mayor Adams announced new economic data showing that the unemployment rate for Black New Yorkers has significantly decreased since the start of the administration. Between January 1, 2022 and April 1, 2024, the Black unemployment rate in the five boroughs decreased from 10.7 percent to 7.9 percent — a 26 percent decrease, or to the lowest point in half a decade. This marks the first time since 2019 that the Black unemployment rate in New York City has been below 8 percent.

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: State Pension Fund Investments Return 11.55% for State Fiscal Year 2023-24

 

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced that the New York State Common Retirement Fund’s investment return was 11.55% for the state fiscal year that ended March 31, 2024. The Fund closed the year with an estimated value of $267.7 billion.

“Strong performances across asset classes helped drive the state pension fund’s investment returns higher over the past year, with many companies reporting better than expected earnings and consumer spending remaining strong,” DiNapoli said. “While inflation persists and global tensions pose risks to investors, the Fund, thanks to its prudent management and long-term approach, is well positioned to weather any storms and continue to provide retirement security to the public employees it serves.”

The Fund's value reflects retirement and death benefits of $16.07 billion paid out during the fiscal year. Employer contribution rates are determined by investment results over a multi-year period along with numerous other actuarial assumptions, including wage growth, inflation, age of retirement, and mortality. Integral to the Fund’s strength have been the state and local governments, which consistently pay their contributions.

As of March 31, 2024, the Fund had 42.85% of its assets invested in publicly traded equities. The remaining Fund assets by allocation are invested in cash, bonds and mortgages (22.26%), private equity (14.60%), real estate and real assets (12.77%) and credit, absolute return strategies and opportunistic alternatives (7.52%).

The Fund’s long-term expected rate of return is 5.9%. The Fund’s annual valuation date is tied to the state fiscal year.

The New York State Common Retirement Fund is one of the largest public pension funds in the United States. The Fund holds and invests the assets of the New York State and Local Retirement System on behalf of more than one million state and local government employees and retirees and their beneficiaries. It has consistently been ranked as one of the best managed and best funded plans in the nation.

Links

Fund’s historic value and rate of return in prior years

Return for the third quarter

Return for 2023

MAYOR ADAMS LAUNCHES LET’S SWIM NYC WITH OVER $1 BILLION IN IMPROVEMENTS TO PUBLIC POOLS IN ALL FIVE BOROUGHS, UNVEILS TWO NEW POOLS AT CITY’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS

 

Historic Investment Keeps New Yorkers Safe From Increasingly Hotter Summers, Furthers City’s Commitment to Water Safety Education  

Builds on City’s Efforts to Hire More Lifeguards Amidst Nationwide Lifeguard Shortage 

 

DOE Cuts Ribbon on Two Newly-Completed Pools at Harry S. Truman High School Campus in the Bronx After Completing Seven Pool Updates This Year with SCA

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue today launched Let’s Swim NYC, a more than $1 billion capital investment in building, improving, and protecting New York City’s public pools over the course of five years (between Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2028). This funding will mark the city’s highest period of investment in swimming infrastructure since the 1970s. Through Let’s Swim NYC, the city is bringing needed funding to 39 pools, including building two brand new indoor pools and fully renovating three additional pools. The historic investment will expand safe water access throughout the five boroughs, promoting public safety and helping more New Yorkers learn life-saving water safety skills.  

 

Building on these investments, today, New York City Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor David C. Banks unveiled two newly-completed, state-of-the-art swimming pools at the Harry S. Truman High School campus in the Bronx. Throughout the 2023-2024 school year, dedicated teams updated seven pools across six city campuses, ensuring that students have access to safe and modern aquatic facilities. The updated pools will be available to use by student and school groups and — in accordance with Chancellor’s Regulations and with the proper extended-use permits — by outside organizations during off-school hours.  

 

“New York City’s pools and beaches are incredible places for New Yorkers to come together, learn to swim, and beat the heat — and as climate change makes heat waves like this week’s more common and more severe, the need for pools has never been greater,” said Mayor Adams. “We’re making a splash with our billion-dollar investment over five years, which will open up more, better pools in all five boroughs for working-class New Yorkers to freely use. That’s how we make New York City a more livable place for everyone lucky enough to call the greatest city in the world home.” 

 

“This week's heat surge reminds us that we need to use every tool to beat the heat — sometimes that's as simple as suiting up and jumping in,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “We take real pleasure in delivering infrastructure that does double duty, delivering both safety and joy. We'll see you poolside!” 

 

“Whether it is a day with the family, a trip with friends, or a venture for yourself, the city’s public pools play an important role in the well-being of all New Yorkers,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “These investments will increase access and ensure the city’s public pools in every borough are a resource for years to come.” 

 

“We are thrilled to celebrate the completion of this renovation, as well as a year of incredible strides across the city to ensure our pools are functional for our students,” said DOE Chancellor Banks. “These facilities not only promote physical fitness and wellness, but also foster a sense of community and pride within the school community. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners at the SCA and NYC Parks for their invaluable collaboration in making aquatics more accessible for our students.” 

 

“At our free public pools across the city, New Yorkers of all backgrounds can relax, get exercise, and cool off on hot summer days,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Donoghue. “But public pools are more than a luxury — they're a vital public resource that promotes public health and makes our communities safer from extreme heat. With these ambitious projects amounting to more than $1 billion, we’re proud to be part of an administration that is investing in our public pool network to ensure all New Yorkers can access the safe, well-maintained public spaces they deserve.” 

 

 “We are a waterfront city and yet swimming resources have been out of reach for too many New Yorkers,” said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “The city’s investments are a major step for health and equity. Swimming is one of life’s simple joys that should be accessible to all.” 

 

“Public pools are fantastic — and fun — cool options that help New Yorkers beat the heat,” said New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “This investment into our city's pools will provide New Yorkers summer fun, exercise, and a refuge from heat. I applaud this huge commitment and look forward to diving in!” 

 

“Renovating school pools is a critical step towards fostering a healthier and more active generation. Swimming is not only a vital life skill but also an excellent way to enhance physical fitness and overall well-being,” said New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) President and CEO Nina Kubota. “By investing in these aquatic facilities citywide, we are providing students with the opportunity to learn to swim, stay active, and develop lifelong habits of health and fitness. These improvements are essential for promoting a balanced education that values both physical and mental development and the SCA is happy to partner with our city’s public schools’ Division of School Facilities and NYC Parks to make this happen.” 

 

“We’ve always said our public spaces must provide an oasis,” said New York City Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu. “With this massive investment in the city's pools we're taking that mandate quite literally, with miles of infrastructure devoted to keeping New Yorkers safe and refreshed.” 

 

Approximately $85 million out of the more than $1 billion will be invested in state of good repair projects to protect aging infrastructure, including pool tub repairs, electrical and structural work, utility and ventilation upgrades, and new decks, lighting, and filtration systems.   

 

More than 60 percent of NYC Parks pools are less than one-quarter of a mile from a New York City Housing Authority campus and in communities with high Heat Vulnerability Index scores. Let’s Swim NYC is one of 10 strategic initiatives being announced in the Vital Parks for All plan, NYC Parks’ forthcoming plan to equitably strengthen the city’s health, environment, and communities through the city’s parks system. Vital Parks for All will focus investments in living infrastructure, including public parks, greenways, pools, playgrounds, wild areas, and recreation centers that host the civic life of the city and make communities healthier, safer, and more livable.  

 

This summer, New Yorkers will be able to enjoy upgraded outdoor public pools in all five boroughs: 

 

•   Astoria Pool in Queens will reopen after an approximately $19 million reconstruction, with a brand-new pool shell, deck, and lighting; state-of-the-art filtration and chemical treatment systems; and upgraded heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and electrical equipment. 
•   NYC Parks will open a fully-renovated mini-pool at Edenwald Playground in the Bronx. 
•    New colorful concrete pool decks, new plantings for color and shade, new benches, fencing, and ADA ramps will greet visitors to John Jay and Sheltering Arms Pools in Manhattan and West Brighton Pool in Staten Island, all modeled after the Cool Pools initiative. 
•   Less visible but vital renovations will keep pools operating smoothly, including new utility lines and HVAC systems at Betsy Head Pool in Brooklyn, Lyons Pool in Staten Island, and Highbridge and Jackie Robinson Pools in Manhattan that will ensure these free public amenities continue to serve generations to come. 

 

As previously announced, the city is also building a new $147 million recreation center with an indoor pool at Roy Wilkins Park in St. Albans, Queens and an indoor pool at the $141 million Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. These two pools represent the first added to New York City parks since 2008. In partnership with the Central Park Conservancy, the city is also investing $60 million to open a new and improved pool at the Harlem Meer in place of the former Lasker Pool, providing Harlem residents with a beautiful new pool and rink facility, thoughtfully incorporated into the landscape of Central Park’s north end. The pool is scheduled to open in the summer of 2025. 

 

Beyond today’s major capital investment in the city’s pools, the Adams administration has also taken strong steps to combat a nationwide lifeguard shortage to ensure that as many of New York City’s pools and beaches can be open for safe swimming as possible this summer. In late May, an arbitration panel issued an award in the city's ongoing negotiations with the bargaining unit representing city lifeguards that will functionally pave the way for the city to be able to hire more lifeguards, allow more swimming capacity at beaches and pools over the coming summers, and improve operations of the city lifeguard program. Among other things, the award will allow the city to modify the qualification for lifeguards assigned to shallow water pools and modernize the vision requirements to be more in line with state regulations and industry standards. This builds on the city's agreement with District Council 37 (DC37) earlier this year to permanently improve the pay of city lifeguards to $22 an hour as of this summer, along with a $1,000 per year bonus for returning lifeguards.  

 

“Improvements like those in today’s Let’s Swim NYC announcement are critical in keeping New York City resilient in the face of climate change’s warming temperatures,” said Chad Purkey, interim executive director, Association for a Better New York (ABNY). “ABNY applauds the more than $1 billion capital investments at NYC Parks’ public pools and New York City public school sites, and the improved access to safe swimming opportunities they provide New Yorkers.” 

 

The Central Park Conservancy is looking forward to welcoming New Yorkers to the new, state-of-the-art public pool in the Park’s north end for the 2025 pool season. The pool at the Harlem Meer will be a model of how public facilities can be transformed to serve their communities,” said Betsy Smith, president and CEO, Central Park Conservancy. “As the Conservancy’s most significant and complex project to date, the $160 million center will provide sorely needed access for Harlem and northern Manhattan to year-round swimming, skating, and access to nature. We’re grateful to the city for their continued partnership in helping us reimagine this landscape and important new facility.”