While New York City is in the red, one council member is predicting a surplus.
Bronx City Councilman Kevin Reilly has introduced a bill that would create an “Office of Black Male Excellence.”
“We are committed to addressing structural inequities and creating a path to opportunity for more Black and brown men in New York City,” Gov. Riley said when introducing the bill earlier this month.
“The Black Male Liaison Office of Excellence [sic] Working with relevant city agencies will ensure that the diverse needs of this group are taken into account in policy formulation and implementation of key programs,” he added.
He co-sponsored the bill with his fellow City Councilmen Yusef Salaam (D-Manhattan), Chi A. Osse (D-Brooklyn) and Chris Banks (D-Brooklyn), a trio of lawmakers he affectionately calls his “Food Caucus.”
If the bill becomes law, the mayor would appoint a “Black Male Excellence Officer.”
According to the bill, the office would make recommendations to the Mayor, City Council and city agencies on issues related to education, criminal justice, health, mental health, economic opportunity, employment, fatherhood, mentorship, violence, public safety and quality of life for Black men.
The office will also submit an annual report to the Mayor and Council Speaker summarizing its activities.
Riley did not respond to The Post’s questions about how much the proposed office and its director would cost. Records show a similar program in Boston costs more than $1.3 million a year.
“I can think of nothing more insulting than telling men that they need government support to excel. Excellence speaks for itself; it’s not something that can be produced by city programs,” said City Councilwoman Vicki Paladino (R-Queens).
“And like all progressive programs, once you get past the PR hype and utopian rhetoric, it ends up being just another money-suck that launders taxpayer money into activist nonprofits while creating no value for anyone,” she continued.
“Maybe my colleagues are worried about seeing black men leaving the Democratic Party in record numbers and need some empty gesture to look like they care?”
A spokesperson for Mayor Adams said his office is “still reviewing this bill and its potential financial impacts.”
