Neighborhood rezoning plans have historically impacted residents of color in low-income communities disproportionately, pushing more long-term residents out of their homes. That’s why Churches United for Fair Housing (CUFFH) advocates and elected officials came together this week to launch an anti-segregation campaign for housing.

The campaign proposes a Racial Impact Study (RIS) in the reviewing stages before any rezoning takes place. The RIS would be part of the rezoning project’s environmental review, which is supposed to identify potentially harmful environmental effects from any proposed land use actions.

“To come out with an impact study that will monitor racial justice is extremely important, not only to our community but throughout all of New York City,” State Assembly Member Maritza Davila said at the campaign launch on Sunday. “My office is inundated everyday with people that are being pushed out. We can monitor the environment, we can monitor the pipes that go down the street, but who’s monitoring us? No one.”