Reaction to Mayor de Blasio's 'State of the City' Address

STATEMENT FROM BP DIAZ:

  “I congratulate Mayor de Blasio on his first ‘State of the City’ Address. I am particularly pleased to hear that the mayor has committed his administration to drop the ongoing lawsuit opposing the ‘Fair Wages for New Yorkers’ Act, and will direct his administration to begin the full implementation of this important law. The fight for ‘living wages’ remains a fight for income equality, and I am proud to count Mayor de Blasio among our allies in that fight. My office will work with the mayor and the City Council to expand this law to cover more New Yorkers.

“Mayor de Blasio’s call for municipal identification cards is also a welcome initiative. My office handles thousands of constituent cases each year, and many of those come from undocumented immigrants and their families. These individuals are often reluctant to go to the police government for help for fear of reprisal, and this proposal will bring them out of the shadows. Municipal identification cards will make it easier for undocumented immigrants to receive essential city services and cooperate with police, leading to a safer city for all.

“I also echo Mayor de Blasio’s call for increased STEM education options within our CUNY system. In my ‘State of the Borough’ address last year I called for the creation of a STEM high school in the Bronx, one based on the successful P-TECH school in Brooklyn. “This is a top priority for my administration, and I will continue to work with the Department of Education to continue to make this happen.” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

 

STATEMENT FROM STATE SENATORS ESPAILLAT AND PERALTA ON NYC MUNICIPAL ID CARD FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS 

“For immigrant families in New York City whose undocumented status leaves them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation by unethical employers, landlords and scam artists, Mayor de Blasio’s municipal ID card will change lives for the better. Under our current system, immigrants’ inability to obtain a government ID excludes them from services most people take for granted, and makes it harder for them to provide for their children.

But with incredible momentum in Albany and across the country, we can’t let up the fight to accomplish what 11 states and the District of Columbia have already done – passing legislation giving immigrants the opportunity to earn legal driving privileges. When we look across the country and see our neighbors in Connecticut, big states with major cities like Illinois and California, and a deep red state like Utah all taking this sensible step forward, there is no reason why the issue remains unaddressed in New York.

As comprehensive reform remains stalled in Washington, we applaud Mayor de Blasio’s commitment to helping vulnerable immigrant communities. Once in place, this initiative will help dispel the baseless and xenophobic arguments opponents have used to block this needed reform for too long.

By the same token, it is unacceptable that hardworking immigrants are made to break the law in order to commute to work or take their kids to school. Providing undocumented immigrants the opportunity to obtain drivers licenses will ensure that all New York drivers are properly credentialed, educated and operating registered, inspected and insured vehicles, making our roads safer and benefiting all New Yorkers.”