On Friday, Mayor Adams revealed the appointment of a new executive director to lead the city’s office dedicated to the prevention of hate crimes. This decision comes following more than eight months post the dismissal of the former director, an action that led to a discrimination lawsuit. The newly appointed official is Vijah Ramjattan, a person of deep expertise in mental health and a leader in the faith community. The initial announcement was part of a ‘2024 achievements’ press release posted on the City’s Office of Criminal Justice website on December 20.
In a formal announcement on Friday morning, Mayor Adams confirmed Vijah Ramjattan as his choice. He noted that Ramjattan’s varied background makes him the ideal person for the demanding role. Adams acknowledged, ‘Vijah brings a wealth of experience in community involvement, advocating for marginalized communities and mental health counseling. These attributes make him distinctly suited for instant impact and successful prevention of hate crimes.’
Ramjattan is set to take over from Naveed Hassan, who was dismissed from his role on April 18. Following his termination, Hassan expressed his belief to the Daily News that his ousting was an act of workplace-based discrimination, specifically due to his Islamic beliefs. Since his evolution from the position, Hassan has filed a notice outlining his plans to press a lawsuit against Adams’ administration alleging discrimination.
Ramjattan, who practices Hinduism and is involved in several interfaith organizations, previously held the position of a clinical research administrator for the state’s Psychiatric Institute-Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene. As of last month, he also headed a school board in Queens, which came under scrutiny after a member shared controversial social media posts about the Israel-Hamas conflict that received criticism for being hate-inciting.
In past roles, Ramjattan worked with the Department of Correction as a grievance coordinator on Rikers Island. The experiences he gathered during his tenure there influenced him to become a vocal advocate for the closure of the troubled jail facility. With other activists, Ramjattan was successful in rallying City Council to pass a 2019 plan that mandates a permanent closure of the island-based jail by 2027.
Speaking about his experiences, Ramjattan said: ‘I have witnessed the realities of Rikers… We stand firmly for rehabilitation and oppose a punitive system as a solution for illegal activities. We strongly advocate for the shut down of Rikers.’ Recently, Adams expressed doubts about the ‘Close Rikers’ plan, proposing instead that the existing borough-based jails intended to replace the island institutions are not sufficient for the current number of inmates.
Adams’ office, when asked to comment on Friday, did not offer a response pertaining to Rodjattan’s past comments regarding Rikers. Along with Rodjattan, Adams announced former Staten Island attorney’s office official, Eric Ware, as Rodjattan’s deputy. The previous deputy to Hassan, in the office dedicated to hate crimes prevention, resigned shortly after Hassan’s exit.
Hassan’s and his deputy’s departures coincided with a rise in hate crime incidents in the city. NYPD data indicates a subsequent rise in the rates, although Adams’ office pointed out that the current rates are lower compared to those from the same period the previous year.