The law requires the Justice Department to collect data on bias crimes involving race, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

The commission said it looked at such criteria as race, ethnicity and common interests in creating the districts.

At first, hate or bias crimes were reported when they included offenses involving race, religion, ethnicity or national origin and sexual orientation.

Only the preamble of the bill - not the language of the statute to be enacted - mentions race, ethnicity and sexual orientation.

State Medicaid agencies must identify "the race, ethnicity and primary language spoken" by each Medicaid recipient.

And they note that Dr. Caputo has now directed that any incidents involving race, ethnicity or sexual orientation be formally reported.

The occasion has filled many New Yorkers, no matter their race, ethnicity or political passions, with a certain sense of cautious optimism for the future of the city.

"We want to spearhead debates around race, ethnicity and cultural politics," he said.