Monticello, NY – A majority of Sullivan County legislators this month approved naming the following members to the Human Rights Commission:
- Joel Santiago, a small business owner from Monticello, former vice president of La Llave del Futuro and advocate through PathStone
- Ari Mir-Pontier, a Barryville resident and former executive director of the Commission (having also served as a commissioner)
- Amanda Ward, District 8 Legislator and South Fallsburg native
- Charles Wade, a local DJ and resident of Wurtsboro
- Margaret Gans, an energy management consultant from Cochecton with a law degree and 30 years’ experience managing affordable housing properties
- Bill Liblick, a prior member of the Commission (chairing the Outreach Committee) and longtime advocate for and defender of the rights of the most vulnerable populations (including on national TV), who lives in Swan Lake
- Ricardo Nieves, a local business owner from Woodridge
- Miranda Behan, a longtime Hurleyville resident and Fallsburg Town Councilperson
- Alex Portugal, a Jewish community leader from Monticello
These appointments come on the heels of County Manager Joshua Potosek’s appointment of Ramone E. Wilson as the first full-time executive director of the Human Rights Commission.
“The Legislature is intent on having a Human Rights Commission that is relevant and responsive to our community,” affirmed Legislature Chair Nadia Rajsz. “Our commitment is reflected by the fact that we aren’t required by law to have such a Commission, but we would prefer citizens, nonprofits and businesses have someone local to reach out to – so we’ve made the necessary investment.”
“I am immensely pleased and honored to both serve on the Human Rights Commission and to have spearheaded its rejuvenation,” stated District 8 Legislator Amanda Ward. “My father served on the Commission formerly, and its mission is deeply important to me. It is imperative that we offer a conscientious and caring hand to anyone in our community who feels they have been discriminated against, to listen to their concerns, and to address them promptly.”
Formed by the Legislature in October 2005, the Human Rights Commission’s mission is:
- To foster mutual respect and understanding in the general population for the rights of all persons in Sullivan County.
- To encourage equality of treatment for, and discourage discrimination against, a person on the basis of race, creed, color, religion or national origin, gender, age, disability, actual or perceived sexual orientation/preference, marital status, or criminal conviction to the extent provided by Correction Law §752.
- To inquire into incidents of tension and conflict among or between various racial, religious, and nationality groups, and to act and relieve such tensions.
- To conduct and recommend programs of education to increase good will among the inhabitants of Sullivan County.
- To receive complaints of alleged discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion or national origin, gender, age, disability, actual or perceived sexual orientation/preference, marital status, or criminal conviction to the extent provided by Correction Law §752, and attempt to resolve such conflicts through intervention or referral.
The Commission does not have investigatory powers – that authority rests with the NYS Division of Human Rights, to which the County’s Commission may refer serious cases requiring formal investigation.
The Human Rights Commission has also been tasked with focusing on consumer affairs, mediating and educating about customer/business issues.
For more information about the Commission, Executive Director Ramone Wilson welcomes calls at 845-807-0189 or emails at Ramone.wilson@sullivanny.gov.
