FR 2025-05053

The recent notice from the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights announces that the New York Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting via Zoom on April 23, 2025. Scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET, this meeting will focus on civil rights issues and is open for public comments. Participants can join through a Zoom link or by phone, with closed captioning provided for accessibility.

General Summary

This document serves as an official notice about an upcoming public meeting organized by the New York Advisory Committee, part of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. The meeting aims to discuss civil rights matters and engage the public in conversation. The public can choose to attend via Zoom for audio and visual participation or join by phone for audio-only access.

Significant Issues and Concerns

There are several noteworthy issues and omissions within the document:

1. Cost Transparency: The document does not detail the costs associated with hosting the meeting, such as potential Zoom fees or personnel expenses. While public meetings typically aim for transparency, the lack of cost information makes it difficult to evaluate resource allocation.

2. Phone Call Charges: The notice mentions that individuals calling in via wireless lines may incur regular charges but fails to clarify what these charges might be. This could lead to confusion and potentially discourage some from participating if they expect high costs.

3. Submission of Comments: Currently, the document only allows for written comments to be submitted via email to David Barreras. This could disadvantage individuals without access to email, limiting their ability to participate fully.

4. Physical Address Omission: While it states that records can be inspected at the Regional Programs Coordination Unit, the notice does not provide a physical address for this location, potentially hindering those interested in reviewing documentation in person.

5. Accommodations for Hearing Impaired: Closed captioning is noted, yet there is no mention of additional accommodations for individuals with hearing impairments beyond this feature, which could limit full accessibility for those attendees.

Impact on the Public

The primary impact on the public from this notice is the opportunity to participate in discussions about vital civil rights issues. The meeting is open to the public, fulfilling a critical function of transparency and inclusivity, allowing people from different backgrounds to voice their opinions and concerns.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

Certain population segments might experience different impacts due to this document:

• People with Disabilities: While closed captioning is offered, the lack of further accommodations for hearing impairments might make full participation challenging for some individuals.

• Individuals without Email Access: Those without access to the internet or email services may feel excluded from submitting comments, pointing to a digital divide issue that institutions need to address for future inclusivity.

• Financially Constrained Individuals: Ambiguity around potential call charges might deter economically disadvantaged individuals from participating, impacting the diversity of voices present at the meeting.

Overall, while the document facilitates public involvement in civil rights discussions, the highlighted issues indicate areas for improvement to ensure broader and more inclusive participation.