Immigrants get up early to 2023 and announce platform of struggle in the NY State Legislature

There are still almost two months to go before the new office takes office in Albany. state legislature (made of 150 assembly members and 63 senators), but the immigrant and working community of the Big Apple You don’t want to rest on your laurels when demanding.

Via the organization Make the Road NYthis week they announced a fight plan to put pressure on the leaders of the State, under the baton of the Governor Kathy Hochul, so that bills that are in the legislative pipeline and that are urgent for the community, finally see the light in the next session, which begins in January 2023.

This is how he stated Theo Oshiroco-executive director of Make the Road New York, after presenting the “Platform of Respect and Dignity for the State of New York”, with which they urge Albany to back up with actions the support that the Latino, immigrant and working community gave to various politicians in the past november 8 electionswhich was decisive in his triumphs.

The New York Activist stressed that it is necessary for state leaders to promote and approve projects such as the expansion of immigrants’ access to health insurance and unemployment insurance, protections against eviction, with the law of “good cause”, the initiative in schools ‘Solutions, not suspensions’, and the increase in taxes for the richest. In addition, child care law for all, which includes undocumented families that were left out in the last session, and the proposal to stop the violence with the approval of the sex trade lawwhich decriminalizes prostitution.

“The State Policy Platform lays out smart solutions to address persistent inequities across our state and improve the lives of immigrants, Blacks and Latinos in New York,” assured oshiro. “New Yorkers have sacrificed a lot in the last two years, surviving a pandemic and an affordability crisis that made daily life difficult. Our communities have shown how resilient they are and have continued to push forward through thick and thin. It is time to refocus and ensure that our communities have the necessary safety nets and protections to allow them to live and succeed.”

The defender of the immigrant community stressed that the request to refocus and prioritize the approval of key issues will be accompanied with trips to Albany and pressure on political leaders, who were supported to get the ticket to power.

“The state budget is a moral document, where our leaders show us what their priorities truly are, and last year we saw that Governor Hochul preferred to give millions of dollars to people with money to build a stadium and forgot about us. That’s not respect or dignity.” dijo Oshiro.

“Let’s make sure we don’t get shut out anymore. We are going to make sure that we are not forgotten and that is why we demand that issues such as the fund for workers excluded from unemployment, access to health insurance and universal child care be approved. It is time for the politicians and the Governor to show which side they are on.”

As part of the launch of the work platform, in both Queens and Brooklynmeetings with community members were held so that invited politicians could hear their stories first-hand.

“Renters like me need basic protections like the good cause eviction bill would provide. We need help to keep families in their homes with real support like the Voucher Access Program, which could help me pay my rent and stay in my home,” she said. Carlos Juca, resident of Queens.

Gloria Sauzamother of a family and also a member of Make the Road New York, representing more than 25,000 members of that association, asked that the approval of health insurance for all and help in medical expenses not be left aside in the next Legislature.

“No one should have to self-medicate because they don’t have access to a doctor or are afraid of getting a high medical bill for a doctor’s visit. The proposal of Coverage for all and the bill to eliminate medical debt I would change my life and the lives of thousands of New Yorkers by expanding and improving access to care,” said the Honduran.

The Mexican Flaviana Linares He insisted on the need for Albany to increase the collection of taxes on the millionaires of New York, so that those resources are returned to the neediest communities.

“New York has an opportunity to do right by its residents by starting with taxing the wealthiest New Yorkers. New York’s ultra-rich own about a fifth of the total wealth of all Americans, the highest concentration of wealth in any state,” said the community leader. “The cost of living in New York is rising and we need Albany to do something big and impactful to help hard working people like me to continue living and working in this state. We need to tax the rich now and invest in the people.”

Laura Martineza transgender woman, highlighted the urgency of decriminalizing sex work.

“For our transgender, gender non-conforming and queer communities, sexual service has been one of the alternatives that allows us to put food on the table and have a place to live. The Law to Stop Violence in the Sexual Commerce maintains codes that protect against human trafficking, protects people who work in the community to stay safe and will help interrupt the direct line between criminalization and deportation,” said the Mexican. “We demand protections for sex workers, just like in any other industry. It is time to pass the Law to Stop Violence in the Sex Trade now.”

Melissa Benítez, youth leader of Make the Road New York, highlighted the vital need for Albany to pass the “Solutions Not Suspensions Act”, which would prevent suspensions from being used as they are currently used, in order to prevent more Black and Latino children from continuing to receive such measures as punishment, than make them more likely to drop out of school and enter the judicial system.

“New York schools have discipline policies that are racially discriminatory, ineffective and harming Black, Latino, LGBTQ students and students with disabilities. All students deserve to attend a safe, high-quality school where they are included, respected, and supported,” said the young Hispanic woman. “New York can make this vision for school a reality by passing the Fixes Not Suspensions Act.”

Until now Governor Hochul has not referred to the petitions of immigrants and workers, but organizers and members of Make the Road they insist that they will continue to fight harder so that their cries can be heard.