City Council Bill Would Allow New Yorkers To Identify Themselves As Multiracial
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A New York City Council proposal would allow New Yorkers to identify themselves as more than one race on city documents.
Legislation being introduced Tuesday would change dozens of official documents. They'd include applications for public housing and complaint forms with the city's Commission on Human Rights.
Advocates say the measure would provide a clearer picture of demographics and allow New Yorkers to better recognize their heritage.
"We just wanted to bring New York City into the 21st century," Councilwoman Margaret Chin, D-Manhattan, the bill's lead sponsor, told The Wall Street Journal. "This will allow New Yorkers to identify their heritage and be proud of it. They shouldn't have to only check one box."
New York City has the highest multiracial population in the country.
More than 325,000 people identified as more than one race on the 2010 census.
"When these residents fill out city documents about their racial background they are not allowed to identify themselves as multiracial, they are forced to check just one box only. This is simply unacceptable," Chin said. "A multiracial New Yorker should never be forced to ignore their heritage."
A spokesman for Mayor Bill de Blasio said the mayor looked forward to reviewing the legislation.
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