MONTICELLO – After one year in office, Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission Ramone Wilson needs more ammunition to fight discrimination in Sullivan County. 

Wilson asked the Legislature on April 24 for investigative jurisdiction to address the swelling stream of human rights complaints, which he said referenced local school districts and law enforcement agencies.

“In the last two months alone, we received 17 new cases, all pending matters still in active review, and the overwhelming theme in these matters is alleged racism and discriminatory treatment,” said Wilson. “The primary institutions referenced in these complaints include Monticello and Liberty School District, as well as New York State Police, and the Monticello Police Department.”

Wilson reported that the new caseload is a hefty increase from the complaints he has received over the previous 10 months, and he said this was a sign that his office has been able to build trust within the community. He said it’s also a warning that serious issues exist and that the need is exceeding the current structure of his office. 

“We cannot keep presenting the Human Rights Commission to the public as if it’s a complete accountability mechanism when it’s not equipped to do the full job,” he said. “We can’t treat this office as a symbol… that creates the illusion that Sullivan County wants to do the right thing while hiding behind the phrase, ‘We can’t investigate real matters.’”

Wilson said residents assume that the Human Rights Commission will examine the evidence and if wrongdoing is proved, there will be a meaningful result. “But under the current structure, when mediation fails or it’s refused, we hit a wall. And to residents, that wall doesn’t feel like procedure, it feels like abandonment. It feels like the government is creating the office to listen but not protect.”

Wilson asked the Legislature for the ability to investigate complaints, to collect and assess facts, and to hold hearings under a clear and lawful framework. He explained this was necessary because the New York State Human Rights Commission currently has a bottleneck of cases causing delays of two to three years before a complaint is heard. “Justice delayed is not neutral, it benefits whoever has power, time, and resources. And some of our residents unfortunately don’t have that luxury,” Wilson proclaimed.

District 8 Legislator Amanda Ward said that she was not aware of the bottleneck of cases at the state level and added that other counties do have the ability to investigate human rights complaints. 

District 6 Legislator Luis Alvarez said, “I was surprised to hear from you that you did not have investigative power, which you should have.”

District 1 Legislator Matt McPhillips asked Wilson to clarify his needs: “Do you feel that it’s a question of the authority that you need to get from us, or is it also a question of capacity?”

Wilson replied, “I think it’s a combination of both.”

Legislative Chair Nadia Rajsz said during the meeting Wilson is an “army of one.”

Sullivan County Communications Director Dan Hust confirmed that what Wilson is proposing would require increased funding and staffing, and said the Legislature has yet to make any policy decisions concerning the granting of investigative authority or increased resources.