Senate Resolution No. 761

BY: Senator COMRIE

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
April 2023, as Fair Housing Month in the State of
New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months that are set aside to increase awareness of important
issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim April 2023, as Fair
Housing Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Fair Housing Month; and

WHEREAS, Every April, we come together as a community, a State and a
Nation to celebrate the anniversary of the passing of the Fair Housing
Act and to recommit to that goal which inspired us in the aftermath of
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's assassination in 1968: to eliminate
housing discrimination and create equal opportunity in every community;
and

WHEREAS, Fundamentally, fair housing means that every person can
live free; this means communities across the State of New York are open
and welcoming, free from housing discrimination and hostility; and

WHEREAS, This also means that each one of us, regardless of race,
color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability,
has access to neighborhoods of opportunity, where our children can
attend quality schools, our environment allows us to be healthy, and
economic opportunities and self-sufficiency can grow; and

WHEREAS, The law prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and
financing of housing, and requires Federal, State, and local governments
to proactively dismantle the discriminatory structures that held back
people of color and other underserved populations from equitable access
to the neighborhoods of their choice; and

WHEREAS, Access to quality housing is the foundation for achieving
better educational, employment, and health outcomes, as well as one of
the most important ways that families build wealth that they can pass
along across the generations; and

WHEREAS, Today, the Fair Housing Act continues to serve as a
powerful statement about who we are as a people: the values of equality,
equity, and dignity that we strive to uphold, and the places where we
still have work to do to fulfill our full promise as a Nation; and

WHEREAS, While there is still much work to be done, the law has
truly changed the lives for the better of numerous families and
communities over the last 55 years; and

WHEREAS, Fair Housing Month is a time to raise awareness of the need
for a strong and effective Fair Housing Act to ensure that thoughtless

and unnecessary barriers like these do not block the path to
opportunity; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim April 2023, as Fair
Housing Month in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.