Residents of the nation’s largest city voted to create a new racial-equity bureaucracy that will include a chief equity officer, following the advice of the commission that was created last year by former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The first proposal residents passed will add a preamble to the city charter that acknowledges the city has a “grave” history of “injustices and atrocities,” while declaring the city will be “just and equitable city for all” and that “diversity is our strength.” The measure passed with 72.3% of the vote, according to the unofficial results from the city’s Board of Elections.

Another proposal, which passed with 69.8% of the vote, approved the amendment of the city charter to establish an Office of Racial Equity that will be headed by a chief equity officer. The newly created office will be tasked with a racial-equity commission that will guide the city’s racial justice priorities and require all city agencies to produce a racial-equity plan every two years.

The third proposal, which passed with 81% of the vote, requires the city to establish a cost of living metric that will “provide a clearer picture of the racial wealth gap” in New York City, which will “guide the City’s decisions as it develops and administers programs and services.”

“Uprooting structural racism is not a onetime event,” the conclusion of the report read. “The Commission heard many recommendations that for various reasons were not included in the final proposals. The Commission knows much more work still needs to be done.”

Grants are designed to help workers in their counties or regions pay for training courses. Programs through a technical college or other approved provider are expected providers.

Officials say the program will improve partnerships between Georgia’s workforce development system, local communities and employers. The focus here attempts to address the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the workforce.

“Since the pandemic, Georgia has experienced both unprecedented economic growth, and record openings of high-quality skilled jobs,” TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier said in a statement.

“This presents a tremendous opportunity for Georgians to not only reenter the workforce, but also begin a new career path that they may not have been able to access before.”

In a statement, Deputy Commissioner Karen Kirchler said, “the pandemic has offered the opportunity to begin a new chapter in their lives, and that often means a better job.”

“With this grant, we can ensure that Georgians who were hit hardest by the pandemic, specifically individuals from special populations and marginalized communities, have access to better jobs as well,” Kirchler added. “The pandemic has offered the opportunity to begin a new chapter in their lives, and that often means a better job.”

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