NY Coalition to Expand Voting Rights: Press Conference from City Hall, New York
September 7, 2008
Did you Know that More than 1 million adult New York City residents can’t participate in local elections. That is 20% of adult New Yorkers and more than the population of 11 states! Is this really democracy?Every year, immigrants pay $ 18.2 billion in New York State income taxes at the exact same tax rate as their citizen neighbors. This is taxation without representation. More and more immigrants are joining and supporting labor unions, but can’t effectively demand that their elected officials support the legislation suggested by their union to provide affordable housing, high-quality education and access to health care in our neighborhoods. Immigrants voted in all elections for the first 150 years of U.S. history. Non-citizen parents voted in school board elections in New York City for more than 40 years until school boards were disbanded in 2003. There is nothing in either the U.S. or the New York State Constitution that prevents us from changing the law to allow immigrants to vote. In over 40 countries around the world and in 6 cities in Maryland, immigrants can vote. The Voting Rights Restoration Act (Intro 2006-245) was reintroduced into the New York City Council in April of 2006. The bill currently has a number of legislative supporters.
Source: iVoteNYC.org
View all videos from the press conference here.
Please take a few minutes to complete The Immigrant Voting Project Community Survey, which is about immigrants and voting. The survey is designed to gather information about immigrant communities in New York City.
What are the main issues facing immigrants?
How well does local government provide services?
How would noncitizen voting rights in local elections affect New York City politics?
You can access the survey, which is confidential and anonymous, at www.immigrantvoting.org. If you wish to receive paper copies of the survey, please send an email request to info@immigrantvoting.org or call 212-220-1246. We will send you a copy (or multiple copies) and a return envelop.
Andrew
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3 Responses to “NY Coalition to Expand Voting Rights: Press Conference from City Hall, New York”
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On behalf of the Guyanese American Workers United and the Coalition to Expand Voting Rights, I wish to thank Baiganchoka {Annand and Andrew} for covering and reporting this very important event.
I also would like to all Guyanese and Caribbean people to become involved in this noble and just struggle. Remember, VOTING IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
I want Guyanese also to know that Joe Addabbo is totally against this bill in the City Council and should not be rewarded with your vote, in his attempt to retard the progress of the Guyanese community in Queens.
He is a candidate for the Senate seat now occupied by Serf Maltese.
Thanks for making us aware of this initative.
It was our pleasure Chuck!