Hanif asks MOPD role versus CCHR in discrimination complaints
Hanif asks what MOPD is responsible for when a New Yorker reports disability discrimination and when CCHR takes over. Belkis Morig says CCHR has prime purview, MOPD is not an enforcement agency, and MOPD refers discrimination complaints to CCHR or Project Equal Access.
Okay, we're going to kick off with some questions for MOPD.
And I know that we are joined by Deputy Commissioner Belkis.
Am I pronouncing your name right?
Okay.
Okay, so to kick off, when a New Yorker reports disability discrimination in employment, housing, or public accommodation, what is MOPD responsible for?
And when does CCHR take over?
And this is to just better understand and get clarity on the relationship that MOPD has with CCHR as it pertains to these kinds of cases.
Thank you, Chair Haney, for that question.
When, generally speaking, CCHR has prime purview over discrimination complaints, so if someone, for example, calls 311 and alleges discrimination, those are directly routed to CCHR.
We do not, we're not an oversight or enforcement agency, so we don't enforce discrimination complaints.
However, constituents can contact us directly.
We have a form on our website.
We have a phone line.
We also have ASL direct and email.
And so there are various ways that people in the disability community get in touch with MOPD.
And when an individual alleges discrimination, we refer them to CCHR.
Sometimes, you know, if the complaint is a physical accessibility complaint, we'll directly refer them to Project Equal Access if it's applicable in that circumstance.
And then we get a...
wide variety of other types of phone calls that aren't appropriate to refer to CCHR and we provide, you know, if businesses contact us about accessibility, we'll provide resources and that sort of thing.
So we serve, you know, as the voice of the disability community in City Hall and we provide resources to businesses, the general public, and anyone who contacts us with specific questions.