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Public commenter says state reparations commission may recommend lineage-based eligibility
Summary
A public commenter told the Albany County Legislature the New York State Community Commission on reparations appears likely to use lineage (descent from enslaved people) as an eligibility criterion and expects recommendations around January 2027; she said she will provide monthly updates to the county.
Carol Waterman, speaking during the public hearing on Aug. 10, said she will begin giving monthly updates to the Legislature on the New York State Community Commission on reparations. "They said it's gonna be January 2027," Waterman said, adding that the commission appears likely to use lineage—whether a person is a descendant of enslaved people—as a criterion for eligibility.
Waterman warned many eligible people could die before funds are allocated and emphasized that the commission will make recommendations to the state legislature, which would decide whether to adopt them. She urged continued community attention and pledged to keep the Legislature informed.
No county action on reparations recommendations was taken at the Aug. 10 meeting; Waterman said her updates would be informational and that final decisions will rest with the state legislature.
