PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S STATEMENT ON EXPANDED VACCINE MANDATES IN NEW YORK CITY

 

"I welcome the new vaccine mandates for private sector businesses in New York City, and wish it had gone into effect earlier than four days before the current Mayor leaves office. Previous mandates have played a major role in increasing the city’s vaccination rates, and amid the uncertainty of the Omicron variant and the certainty of holiday travel and gatherings, this new measure can help save lives. 

"I am also glad to see the administration expand the requirement under existing mandates to full vaccination rather than a single dose– as I and others have called for– because incomplete protection is not nearly enough amid rising cases and the new variant. It is now incumbent upon the administration, in the next days and weeks, to advise and aid our city’s businesses on issues of implementation and enforcement that have not been adequately explained. 

"The citywide vaccine mandates for indoor dining and entertainment venues have been widely successful in spurring vaccination, encouraging New Yorkers to patronize businesses, and simultaneously limiting the kind of spread we have seen in other areas across New York State. Amid the holiday season, as people travel across the state and the majority of gatherings move inside, it is critical that the Governor implement these vaccination screenings statewide, in addition to widespread masking requirements. We have the tools and the capacity to prevent another deadly surge of the virus, now we must have the will to use those tools, the urgency to act now, and the spirit of solidarity to protect our fellow New Yorkers."

Mayor de Blasio Describes Measures to be Taken to Prevent Omicron Variant Spread While Fighting Delta Variant

 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio: Good morning, everybody. Well, we are very, very carefully monitoring the latest news about the Omicron variant and, meanwhile, we're still fighting the central battle, which is against the Delta variant. So, a lot going on. Then, I have some updates for you today because we need to take very bold action, aggressive action to address these new threats. It's Omicron, it's cold weather, which we know presents a real challenge with COVID in every form. It's the holiday gatherings coming up. There's a lot going on and what we're seeing now in other parts of the world, and this is really an area of tremendous concern. We're seeing restrictions starting to come back. We're seeing shutdowns. Look at Germany right now, such a strong nation in so many ways, but the situation there has got to a really troubling place. So, now they're reinstating a lot of restrictions that we all hoped were part of the past. We cannot let those restrictions come back. We cannot have shutdowns here in New York City. We got to keep moving forward. And the answer is always is to use the things that work, vaccination works and vaccine mandates work. That's the bottom line. 

So, look, we're working closely with the State government, with the federal government, we're all united, common front to fight COVID and that cooperation is tremendously important, but we also know Omicron is here. No debate about it anymore. It doesn't matter if we're only getting a few cases in different states. We know it's here. We know it's going to spread. It appears to be at this moment, very transmissible. We're waiting for more facts and more evidence, but that's what we're seeing so far.

 

What does that mean? You can expect – and I'm sorry to say this, you can expect community spread. We have to assume it's going to be widespread. We have to assume it's going to give us a real challenge. We'd been to this movie before, we've been down this road before, we know what happens when we get a new variant, in particularly one that's highly transmissible. It's not something we can't handle. We have the tools, but we have to use those tools aggressively and we have to move quickly. And that's why I described the actions we're taking today as a preemptive strike, get ahead of this problem before it deepens and use the thing that works, vaccination. We can talk about all the other tools and we will, but vaccination is the central weapon in this war against COVID. It's the one thing that has worked every single time across the board on a strategic level. It's the reason New York City is back in so many ways. And it's the reason we can avoid shutdowns and restrictions, it’s more use of vaccination. So, that's why we are taking aggressive action today. We are not going back to what happened in 2020. We cannot allow that to happen. We're not going to allow to happen in New York City with what's happening in Germany right now. We cannot let that happen.

 

So, look, bottom line. I've said we have been climbing the ladder as we have climbed the ladder, good things have happened more and more people have got vaccinated. The city got safer. We were able to bring back people's livelihoods and jobs and the life of the city. We need to keep that going. So, today, we're going to be announcing some additional measures to keep New Yorkers safe. And I'm going to remind everyone job, number one, any mayor, keep people safe. This is the biggest crisis not only of our time, but of the history of New York City. We cannot let COVID back in the door again. So, these measures today will make a big difference. First of all, with the Key to NYC, extremely effective program has been respected and emulated around the country. It needs to be more honestly, it's something that should be used in more and more places. Well, right now we require all employees and patrons, everyone, 12 and up to be vaccinated, at least one dose, that’s indoor dining, fitness, entertainment. That's worked brilliantly. It's been a tremendous success or a lot of concern about the beginning. In fact, it has been an across the board success with very few problems. You know, there's been a few challenges, but not many. So, we now are going to deepen that effort by requiring all employees and patrons to have from 12 years old and up, two doses. And that will take effect on December 27th, because the idea is everyone by that point, who has got their first dose, if you've got your first dose by now, you're going to be able to get your second dose by then. We got to up the ante here. We want to also encourage folks to get that second dose, vast majority of New Yorkers do. And that's good news, but we've got to encourage people even more, get that second dose because that's what gives you so much more protection. So, two doses for all the Key to NYC businesses starting December 27th, employees and customers, and that's going to keep people safe and we want to see people go out and get those second doses right now, if they qualify. 

 

Remember with the holidays, with the cold weather, you haven't got your second dose and you qualify, this is exactly the time to get it. You should feel urgency because the challenge of COVID is about to get greater. Now, another point on Key to NYC thinking the youngest New Yorkers, the vaccination for the five to 11-year-olds has just begun the last few weeks already. We've got over 127,000 New York City kids in that age range vaccinated. That's great. It's a little over 19 percent of all the kids in that group, considering as brand new. That's good and it's better than the national rate, but it's not enough. Obviously, we need to see a lot more. We need to see kids getting vaccinated in that age group. Parents, we need you to step up for the good of your children, your family, all of us go get your child vaccinated. So, we're going to include them in the Key to NYC. The guidelines are Key to NYC starting on December 14th. So, this is again one dose now because it's a new vaccination, that gives parents plenty of time. We've been having vaccination drives in schools. We're in the middle of our second round, in every single elementary school in New York City, every school with five to 11-year-olds, this'll be the second time around started last week continuing this week. If you're a parent, you want to get your kid vaccinated. it's so simple. It could be at your own school, or it could be in many, many locations nearby your home. This is something that's going to keep kids safe and families safe. Go get your child vaccinated so long as they've got that first dose by December 14th, they can continue to participate indoor dining entertainment, all of these great things.

 

Now, another point for our youngest kids, previously, for the kids 12 years old and up the rule has been in place for high risk extracurricular activities, sports, band, chorus, orchestra, dance, things where there's a lot of close contact,  things where kids are, you know, singing or anything where they're really the letting a lot of air out that could have an impact on everyone around them, that has applied to kids 12 and up, We're going to now apply that to kids in the five to 11 year old range, as well. That's also December 14th, again, only one dose required. There's time for parents get that done. Most kids don't necessarily participate in those activities. That's fine, but for those who do we want to make sure they have that protection, it's real important.

 

Okay, now another really big, important step in this is going to be a first in the nation step. You're going to hear from our Health Commissioner in a moment, and he will be issuing a Commissioner's Order for all private sector employers in New York City. It is time. Look, this is how we put health and safety first by ensuring that there is a vaccine mandate that reaches everyone universally in the private sector. A lot of folks in the private sector have said to me, they believe in vaccination, but they're not quite sure how they can do it themselves. Well, we're going to do it. We're going to do this so that, every employer is on a level playing field. One universal standard starting December 27th. We're going to be working with businesses all over the city. And that's almost 200,000 businesses that are not already covered by the Key to NYC guidelines right now. We're going to be working with the business community. We're going to be talking to them in the next days on how to put together the right plan to implement this. The specific guidance, the specific rules will come out in December 15th. We want to have a collaborative process. We want to make this work and let's be clear, we have a great example with the Key to NYC, all those restaurants, all those fitness clubs, all those entertainment facilities and movie theaters, all sorts of places they've been working with us. They gave us good advice up front. We came up with rules that work the vast, vast majority of implement those rules really effectively. And I constantly hear from people that they know that go into a place under Key to NYC they're safe and they feel comfortable. They're going to enjoy themselves. They feel comfortable in those settings because they know everyone's vaccinated and there was a lot of concern up front. Would it work? Would it be difficult? You know what businesses have adapted and handled it really, really well. And we know will happen again. We're going to set up a call center to handle concerns from businesses. We'll have a strong outreach effort as we've done previously, to answer questions, provide the support they need. This is going to make a huge difference to make sure New Yorkers are safe going forward. I want you to hear from the person who will be issuing the order in the course of the day, our Health Commissioner, Dr. Dave Chokshi.

 

Commissioner Dave Chokshi, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor. When we were thinking through these major new policies announced today, we had a few groups of New Yorkers in mind. I thought about my patients. So many of them essential workers who have been at risk throughout the pandemic and who are at greater risk when they are in close quarters with unvaccinated colleagues. I thought about our nurses and other healthcare workers, the trauma they've experienced and the post-traumatic stress they feel right now with cases increasing again and Omicron on the horizon. I thought about the patients, those same health care workers look after, especially the unvaccinated patients expressing regret for their decision in terrifying moments of remorse, like just before they have to be placed on a breathing tube. And I thought about how we can better protect people who remain vulnerable despite widespread access to vaccination, like children who are still too young to get the vaccine and New Yorkers with weakened immune systems, such as those with cancer on chemotherapy. For all of those groups, risk rises as community transmission increases, even before Omicron becomes more common, we've seen case numbers grow in recent weeks due to Delta, the devil we know. They have more than doubled since of recent low point in early November, increasing in every borough and every age group. That's why the bold steps the Mayor announced today are necessary and vital, starting with the private sector vaccine mandate. Vaccines work and vaccine mandates work, particularly when joined with efforts to build vaccine confidence, provide incentives and improve access as we have in New York City. We've seen this with our healthcare workers, school staff and public employees, now it's time for the private sector to step up and follow suit.

 

Turning to our younger New Yorkers, case rates are currently highest among our five to 11-year-olds, but we can change this. And indeed, parents have already vaccinated over 130,000 kids since five to 11-year-olds became eligible. Extending the Key to NYC to those five and up and expanding our vaccine requirement for high-risk extracurricular activities to that same age range will help further. These are proven tools in our fight against COVID-19 and a logical step to protect our kids. New York City has led the nation when it comes to decisive action on COVID-19. We have to be even more relentless than the virus. And I'm so proud of all the ways New Yorkers have shown our characteristic toughness, particularly when it's most needed. For instance, in the last two days, over 108,000 vaccinations were reported as administered, including about 63,000 booster doses. Those boosters may turn out to be particularly important for Omicron. So, you'll see us work to further increase the almost 1.2 million additional or booster doses already administered in NYC. And beyond vaccination, I'm grateful to everyone for their commitment to common sense precautions, particularly masking, testing, improving ventilation and staying home when you are ill. My Commissioner's Advisory on masking from last week, emphasized mask use indoors, including for those who are vaccinated and also, call the attention into higher quality masks like KN95s and KF94s for those at higher risk.

 

Mr. Mayor, thank you for the swift and resolute leadership demonstrated by today's announcements. I know it will save lives and help us prevent unnecessary suffering. Thank you.

 

Governor Hochul Signs Legislation Protecting Seniors from Fraudulent Use of Personal Information

 

Legislation (S.1560/A.1994) Incorporates Identity Theft Into the Definition of Elder Abuse for Purposes of Support Services and Programs for Elder Persons 

 Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation (S.1560/A.1994) into law to protect seniors from fraudulent use of personal information by authorizing support services on identity theft through non-profit agencies and law enforcement. The legislation allows the Office of the Aging and law enforcement to recognize identity theft as one of the many forms of elder abuse and take appropriate action to help seniors.  

"The fact that older New Yorkers are often the target of identity theft is unconscionable," Governor Hochul said. "We need to continue boosting protections for our aging population, and this legislation is a simple, common-sense way to keep them safe from harmful tactics of elder abuse. Older New Yorkers have been there for us, and as the nation's first age friendly state I'm proud that New York continues to lead the way to be there for them."   

The new law adds a definition of "elder abuse and exploitation" to the elder law and incorporates identity theft in the list of eligible support services through the naturally occurring retirement communities (NORC) programs. The law also amends section 214-c of the executive law to provide that identity theft shall be one of the many forms of elder abuse that the Office of the Aging and law enforcement address in their educational materials for police officers' use when encountering such abuse.  

The unlawful use of an individual's personal identification information such as social security number, driver's license information, or bank and credit card account can result in terrible consequences lasting years. In its worst form it can leave the older victim bankrupt and without assets in their retirement.

While older adults are not the exclusive targets of identity theft, they can be especially susceptible to victimization as they often need to share their personal information with caregivers, medical providers' offices, government agencies, and over the internet. The impact of identity theft can be devastating for older adult victims who are unable to restore stolen funds through employment. This law, the aging support services groups, and law enforcement teams will be able to use available resources to help seniors, the fastest growing sector of our population, from identity theft in its many forms.   

Attorney General James Continues Fight to Protect Free and Fair Elections for Voters

 

AG James Co-Leads Coalition Fighting to Strike Down Florida’s New Restrictive Voting Law 

  New York Attorney General Letitia James today continued her fight to ensure fair access to elections for all eligible voters, leading a coalition of 17 attorneys general from around the nation in filing amicus briefs in three cases having to do with voting rights. The briefs were filed in Florida Rising Together v. Lee; Florida State Conference of Branches and Youth Units of the NAACP, Common Cause, and Disability Rights Florida v. Lee; and League of Women Voters of Florida v. Lee. The plaintiffs in these cases challenge Florida’s restrictive voting law, SB 90. They explain that the law — created after the 2020 election — erects unconstitutional voting restrictions, especially against mail-in ballots. They further explain that Florida’s law, like others of its kind, also has a discriminatory impact on minority voters. In today’s brief, Attorney General James and the coalition support the plaintiffs’ arguments that SB 90 creates barriers to voting in violation of the Voting Rights Act and the right to vote as protected by the U.S. Constitution in the First, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments.  

“Voting in free and fair elections is a fundamental civil right, and must be protected at all costs,” said Attorney General James. “Florida’s new law, and others like it, only seek to offset recent election losses. Fraud has nothing to do with it. This is about discriminating against minority communities and stopping them from casting their ballots, which is why our coalition will continue to challenge these unconstitutional and illegal efforts to undermine the will of the people.” 

Florida’s 2020 election saw high voter turnout, with a surge of participation by a young and diverse electorate. In the wake of the election, however, Florida passed SB 90. Among other things, the law severely reduces access to vote-by-mail drop boxes, makes it difficult for voters to get assistance returning their mail-in ballots, and requires that voters more frequently re-request to vote by mail. 

Following the law’s passage, the three lawsuits were filed.

In the brief –– filed in all three cases in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida –– the coalition supports the plaintiffs, who argue that SB 90 has discriminatory impacts on minority voters in Florida, that it was passed with the intent to discriminate, and that the law burdens the fundamental right to vote. The brief also asserts that these claims deserve a full hearing at trial and that summary judgment — which the defendants are asking for — is not warranted. The coalition additionally argues that it is possible to pursue free and fair elections while expanding voter opportunity in ways that do not risk malfeasance, maladministration, or fraud. For example, New York and the District of Columbia have done just that with recent expansions to the right to vote.  

This brief is a continuation of efforts by Attorney General James to challenge restrictive voting laws and protect voters’ rights across the nation. Attorney General James has successfully led battles against unfair voting restrictions and illegal efforts to deter voting in New York and across the country, ranging from filing lawsuits against the Trump Administration’s for undermining the U.S. Postal service in an effort to block mail-in voting in the 2020 election, to filing an amicus brief in a lawsuit brought forward against a similar discriminatory Georgia law, to stopping conspiracy theorists from suppressing Black New Yorkers' right to vote, and more.  

Additionally, in May 2021, Attorney General James filed a lawsuit against the Rensselaer County Board of Elections (BOE) and its commissioners for failing to provide voters in Rensselaer County with adequate and equitable access to early voting poll sites, as required by New York’s Early Voting law. In June, a judge ruled in favor of Attorney General James’ request for an injunction against the Rensselaer County Board of Elections, and, in August, the court ruled in favor of Attorney General James’ lawsuit and ordered the BOE to select new early voting poll sites.

Joining Attorney General James in filing this brief are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s Statement on the Justice Department’s Civil Investigation into the Mount Vernon Police Department

 

Congressman Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) issued the following statement on the Justice Department’s Civil Investigation into the Mount Vernon, NY Police Department. 

 

On Friday, the Justice Department announced an investigation into the Mount Vernon Police Department following years of ignored claims of planted evidence, illegal body cavity searches, excessive force, abusive tactics and targets on residents and youth, primarily Black, of Mount Vernon, New York. 

 

This investigation comes after Congressman Jamaal Bowman called for a Department of Justice investigation into civil rights violations along with Mayor Patterson-Howard and District Attorney Rocah earlier this year in May. Their leadership is a reflection of new political leaders in Westchester that are committed to just policing and accountability. 

 

“It pains me deeply to know of Mount Vernon residents’ experiences with the Mount Vernon Police Department. Our country has a long, traumatic history of police abuses on civilians that has become heightened with increasing documentation of injustices from law enforcement officials, in addition to a growing public display and rhetoric of hate and intolerance.” 

 

“In Mount Vernon and beyond, enough is enough. Generational cycles of abuse at the hands of law enforcement must come to an end. We need a justice system - police included, to start from a place of compassion and not malice. We need a complete transformation of law enforcement so that it is ethical and restorative. I will do everything in my power to support the City of Mount Vernon through this investigation. The people cannot be ignored.” 

 

Comptroller Stringer: Cost of Incarceration per Person in New York City Skyrockets to All-Time High

 

Annual cost of incarceration grew to $556,539 a person per year – or $1,525 each day

The full annual cost per person nearly quadrupled from FY 2011 to FY 2021

Despite a 15% decline in the average daily population, the absolute number of violent infractions rose slightly from FY 2020 to FY 2021

 The cost of incarceration per person in New York City rose to an all-time high in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, according to a new analysis of the Department of Correction (DOC) released today by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer. The City now spends $556,539 to incarcerate one person for a full year, or $1,525 per day – nearly quadrupling since FY 2011.  As identified in previous analyses by the Comptroller’s Office, rates of violent incidents continue to rise: despite a 15% decline in the average daily population, the absolute number of fight and assault infractions rose slightly from 11,191 in FY 2020 to 11,214 in FY 2021.

“The City is spending more and more to incarcerate fewer and fewer individuals – yet the numbers show that rates of violence and use of force in our jail system are substantially increasing,” said Comptroller Stringer. “As the jail system continues to shrink and yield significant savings, the City should use these resources to leverage better all-around outcomes. We need to invest in a humane, modern, and efficient corrections system that keeps our incarcerated population as small as possible while prioritizing safety and security.”

This analysis is the Comptroller’s eighth annual update of spending and performance trends of the New York City Department of Correction. The analysis uses budget data, claims against the City, reports of violence in City jails, and personnel data to analyze the DOC’s operations.

According to the Comptroller’s FY 2021 Department of Correction analysis:

The full annual cost of incarceration grew to $556,539 per person in FY 2021.

• DOC’s budget has declined for the last three years, contracting 10% from $1.39 billion in FY 2018 to $1.25 billion in FY 2021. Including additional costs outside the DOC budget, such as employee fringe benefits and health care expenses for the incarcerated population, the full cost of incarcerating one person for one year was $556,539 in FY 2021. As the jail population dropped at a steep pace, the full annual cost per person nearly quadrupled from FY 2011 to FY 2021.
• DOC staff earned $153 million in overtime in FY 2021, down 44% from its peak of $275 million in FY 2016.

Average daily jail population fell 61% from FY 2011 to 2021

The average daily jail population fell by 61% from 12,790 in FY 2011 to 4,961 in FY 2021. The pandemic contributed to a temporary drop in the jail population at the end of FY 2020 as non-essential activity ground to a halt and city and state officials endeavored to reduce the population amid the threat of COVID-19. Amid the reopening of the economy, as well as pandemic-related interruptions to court proceedings, the jail population steadily rose for most of FY 2021. More recently, the jail population briefly exceeded 6,000 in late August and early September before declining modestly to about 5,500 at the end of October.

The ratio of correction officers to incarcerated persons continued to rise

• After a headcount expansion in FY 2016 and FY 2017, the number of uniformed personnel employed by DOC has fallen steadily, dropping to 8,338 at the end of FY 2021. Compared to FY 2011, the number of correction officers has declined by 1%.
• Because the jail population fell faster than the decline in staffing, the ratio of guards to the average jail population has risen. Since FY 2016, DOC has employed more guards than the average daily population, with the department employing 1.7 guards per incarcerated person in FY 2021.

Rates of violent incidents keep rising

• Despite a 15% decline in the average daily population, the absolute number of fight and assault infractions rose slightly from 11,191 in FY 2020 to 11,214 in FY 2021. As a result, the annual rate of fight and assault infractions per 1,000 incarcerated persons increased 18% from 1,916 in FY 2020 to 2,260 in FY 2021. Since FY 2011, the rate has nearly quadrupled. In FY 2011, the DOC reported 7,431 fight and assault infractions.
• Over the last ten years, the annual rate of assaults on DOC staff more than quintupled from 42.0 per 1,000 incarcerated individuals in FY 2011 to 235.2 in FY 2021. The rate increased by 24% in FY 2021 alone.
• The absolute number of use of force incidents and allegations also rose in FY 2021, rising 10% from 7,047 in FY 2020 to 7,743 in FY 2021. Adjusted for the jail population, the use of force rate increased 779% from 178 per 1,000 incarcerated individuals in FY 2011 to 1,561 in FY 2021.
• As of FY 2021, more than half of incarcerated individuals had a mental health diagnosis. The share steadily rose from 32% in FY 2011 to 46% in FY 2020 prior to jumping to 53% in FY 2021.
• Tort claims filed for personal injury at a correction facility fell for the second consecutive year in FY 2020 but were still nearly triple the number in FY 2011.

Governor Hochul Signs Legislation Expanding the Discrimination Protections of the Human Rights Law to Include For-Profit Educational Institutions

 

Legislation (S.7151/A.7390) Broadens the Definition of 'Educational Institution' in the Human Rights Law to Protect Students Attending For-Profit Colleges, Universities, Career Schools and English as a Second Language Schools

 Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation (S.7151/A.7390) expanding the discrimination protections of the Human Rights Law to include for-profit colleges, universities, career schools, and English as a second language schools by updating the definition of a covered 'educational institution.'   

"Every student in New York deserves the chance to learn without shouldering the unacceptable burden of harassment and discrimination in the classroom," Governor Hochul said. "This legislation makes it absolutely clear that we have no tolerance for discrimination or harassment in as many of New York's schools and educational institutions as possible." 

For decades, the Division of Human Rights has accepted, investigated, and adjudicated discrimination complaints from students of both public and private secondary schools and universities. However, this protection has not included students attending for-profit colleges and universities in the state, until now.  

By declaring that the provisions of the Human Rights Law apply to for-profit colleges, universities, career schools and English as a second language schools, as well as both public and private non-profit institutions, New York State will ensure that all students are afforded legal protection against discrimination.  

Council Member Ruben Diaz Sr. - BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR YOU MIGHT JUST GET IT

 

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

By Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz

 

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR YOU MIGHT JUST GET IT

 

I am Councilman Rev. Rubén Diaz, and this is What You Should Know.

You should know that in life people should be sure of what they want, because it could be that what they wish for today, could be their regret in the future. 

You should know that NYC Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, of Dominican Descent, has lent himself, along with other elected officials to submit legislation that will legalize voting rights to non-citizens in the City of New York. 

We all know that New York City has a tendency to set the agenda on a national, and I dare say international levels. You well know that there are countries, including the Dominican Republic, where the right to vote is denied to undocumented/ non-citizen individuals.  But something like this, should it pass in New York City, will set the wheels in motion nationally and even internationally. 

Right here in New York State, organized groups are urging that the Dominican Republic allow Haitians and other non-nationalized groups the right to vote in Dominican elections. 

Friends of Councilman Ydanis Rodríguez and Congressman Adriano Espaillat, such as Mayor Bill de Blasio, went to Upper Manhattan, where there is a large Dominican population asked for a Tourist Boycott against the Dominican Republic until the Haitians and other non-citizens are afforded the right to vote in Dominican Republic. 

It is important for you to know, that it is those same people, who behind the scenes are pushing Ydanis Rivera and Adriano Espaillat to be, the so-called heroes, by helping to pass the bill that will allow New York City to be the first to authorize non-citizens the right to vote in our elections.

Know this, my dear reader, once this happens in New York, a national campaign will be triggered so that the same voting rights for non-citizens be granted in other states and countries.  New York will the first and set the precedent. If this passes the message sent to all will be that if the United States does not respect and abide by the Constitution and established laws regarding who qualifies for the right to vote, then why should non-citizens be afforded the right vote everywhere else. 

Personally, as a NYC Council member, I oppose this bill and I intend to vote against it, because as presented it may seem as a noble and fair thing to do but the ramifications could be devasting. This bill is in direct violation of our established laws, and it violates the United States Constitution. When a person makes the decision to become a U.S. citizen, they must first pass an exam of 100 questions.   

Those questions entail America’s Founding, the nation’s founding fathers, and our nations (3) branches of government including individual states rights.  Becoming a citizen is a privilege and the right to vote is part of that privilege and should be protected. In return for the vote the citizen demonstrates their loyalty to the country that they chose to adopt as their home. Voting rights and becoming a citizen is vital to the survival of this nation as a liberty loving Republic.    

If Ydanis, Adriano, and their friends manage to pull this off, they will NOT have a moral leg to stand on when it comes to defending the Constitution of the Dominican Republic and any other country who may also face this voting rights issue.  

 

My advice to them is "Be very careful what you wish for, because you may just get it" 

I am Councilman Rev. Rubén Diaz, and this is What You Should Know.