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Council Discourse

NYC Council meetings, chaptered and linked by time.

Created by Uzair Qadir

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Q&A

Hudson questions on low complaint rates and encouraging disclosure

New York City Council · Jun 24, 2026 · starts 1:49:45 · 1 min 43 sec

Hudson asks whether low complaints reflect no concerns or reluctance to self-identify. Rivera acknowledges the importance of building trust before asking for disclosure, suggesting information be collected after initial crisis subsides, and emphasizes improving how questions are asked.

Crystal Hudson

Can you just...

Crystal Hudson

Assess or opine on whether or not you think the lack of complaints is because there were no concerns from LGBTQI plus identified residents or because complaint complainants choose not to self-identify?

Rima Rivera

I can't say one way or another, but I can say that I think that that's it's so important for us to kind of message the importance of

Rima Rivera

of disclosure.

Rima Rivera

It's, and also emphasize that it's voluntary and we understand it's deeply personal, but the goal is really, although we don't want to pressure self-disclosure, I think there are ways in which we can encourage self-disclosure.

Rima Rivera

I think the way we ask

Rima Rivera

clients to identify is very important.

Rima Rivera

I think we need to also, for instance, with our DV providers, that when a client comes to a DV shelter, they're in the moment of crisis.

Rima Rivera

They may not be of the mindset to share that information.

Rima Rivera

So perhaps it would be best to obtain this information once we both trust and to come back and enter that information in our database so that we can have that information.

Rima Rivera

So I understand.

Rima Rivera

why the numbers are so low at time of intake, but I think we just need to encourage that we build trust and let clients know why this information is needed, ask it in a way where it's welcomed

Rima Rivera

to receive, and make sure that it's documented.

Rima Rivera

In our systems, data systems.

Crystal Hudson

Thank you.