§ 28-4. Duties and powers.

The powers and duties of the mayor's commission on human rights shall be:

(a)

To receive and investigate complaints and to initiate its own investigation of:

(1)

Racial, religious and ethnic group tensions, prejudice, intolerance, bigotry and disorder and discrimination occasioned thereby;

(2)

Practices of discrimination against any person because of race, color, creed or national origin;

(3)

Discrimination by any city official or city agency against any individual, corporation, association on racial, religious or ethnic grounds; and

(b)

To develop such programs and techniques designated to bring about the elimination of such discrimination.

(c)

To hold hearings, administer oaths, take the testimony of any person under oath relating to any matter under investigation or in question before the commission. The powers enumerated in this subsection may be exercised by the chairman or vice-chairman and three (3) or more other members of the commission designated by the commission.

(d)

To issue such publications and such reports of investigations and research as in its judgment will tend to minimize or eliminate prejudice, intolerance, bigotry, disorder and discrimination or tend to promote good will.

(e)

To enlist the cooperation of the various racial, religious, and ethnic groups, community organizations, labor organizations, fraternal and benevolent associations, news media, radio and TV, and industrial, professional, real estate, business and banking leaders, and other groups in an educational campaign devoted to teaching the need for eliminating group prejudice, intolerance, bigotry, disorder and discrimination.

(f)

To cooperate with federal, state and local agencies, including the department of education, in developing courses of instruction for presentation in public and private schools, public libraries, museums and other suitable places showing the contributions of the various races, religious and ethnic groups to the culture and traditions of our city and nation, the menace of prejudice, intolerance, bigotry and discrimination, and the need for mutual self-respect and to cooperate with the local police department in developing and including such human rights courses in their curricula of police training.

(g)

To promote the establishment of local community organizations when and where it may deem it desirable, consisting of representatives of different groups in our community in order to plan and carry out educational programs for the community.

(h)

To appoint an executive director and such additional personnel as it may deem necessary.

The expenses for the carrying on of the commission's activity shall be paid out of the funds in the city treasury within amounts appropriated therefor but the commission shall in addition be authorized to accept contributions from other sources to carry on its work generally or earmarked for a particular function.

(i)

To create such advisory committees and subcommittees as in its judgment will aid in effectuating the purposes of this chapter and to empower them to study the problems of prejudice, tolerance, bigotry, disorder and discrimination in all or any fields of human relationship.

(j)

Recommend to the mayor and the common council legislation to aid in carrying out the purposes of this chapter.

(k)

To submit an annual report to the mayor and the common council which may be published in the official Syracuse city publication.

(Ord. of 9-30-63)