LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE NEW YORK IMMIGRATION COALITION AND UNITED NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSES’ BRIEF AMICI CURIAE
For over three years, members of the Our City, Our Vote Coalition campaigned together for the passage of a law enabling the ability of New Yorkers with legal permanent status or work authorization the right to vote in municipal elections, a return to form for a city with a long history of enfranchising its immigrant residents. On December 9, 2021 legislation to allow that passed the NYC Council and one month later that law, Local Law 11-2022, became a reality. Following invalidation of the law by a Richmond County Supreme Court on June 27, the legality and constitutionality of the voting rights which the Our City, Our Vote Coalition fought for is being reviewed on appeal before the Second Judicial Department of the New York Appellate Division.
The twenty-eight signatories below, members of the Our City, Our Vote Coalition, were consulted by fellow Coalition-members the New York Immigration Coalition and United Neighborhood Houses to draft an Amici Curiae brief bringing to the Appellate Division’s attention the importance of Local Law 11 and its impact on the New York communities that we serve.
As New York non-profit organizations, the signatories work to improve the lives of New Yorkers by addressing a wide range of issues such as education, housing, public health, and civic participation. Because immigrants are an essential part of New York City, addressing the needs and experiences of New York’s immigrant communities is an important aspect of all of our efforts. We believe in the principle that those who live, work, raise families, and pay taxes in New York City should have a say in how their city is governed. We believe this because we see in our work the way that local government affects every aspect of the lives of the communities we serve.
Therefore, having reviewed and provided input on the proposed Brief Amici Curiae of the New York Immigration Coalition and United Neighborhood Houses, we write this letter expressing our endorsement and support for the brief and the positions taken therein.
Mon Yuck Yu, on behalf of Academy of Medical & Public Health Services
Prarthana Gurung, on behalf of Adhikaar for Human Rights & Social Justice
Ali Rashid, on behalf of American Pakistani Advocacy Group
Salma Allam, on behalf of Arab American Association of NY
Salma Mohamed, on behalf of Arab American Family Support Center
George Cayasso, on behalf of The Black Institute
Damaris Rostran, on behalf of Black Leadership and Action Coalition
Sasha Wijeyeratne, on behalf of CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities
Wayne Ho, on behalf of Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc.
Mae Lee, on behalf of Chinese Progressive Association
Anita Gundanna and Vanessa Leung, on behalf of Coalition for Asian American Children and Families
Fahd Ahmed, on behalf of DRUM - Desis Rising Up & Moving
Toyin Omolola, on behalf of Dsi International Inc
Andres Garcia, on behalf of El Centro Del Inmigrante
Stephanie Mulcock, on behalf of Garra (Cidadao Global, Global Citizen, Inc.)
Charles Mohan, on behalf of Guyanese American Workers United
Allen Roskoff, on behalf of Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club
Ira Yankwitt, on behalf of Literacy Assistance Center
Sandra Choi, on behalf of MinKwon Center for Community Action
Lorena Kourousias, on behalf of Mixteca Organization, Inc.
Mia McDonald, on behalf of New York Working Families Party
Chai Jindasurat, on behalf of Nonprofit New York
Melissa John, on behalf of RepresentWe
Shailesh Shrestha, on behalf of Sampreshan, Inc.
Albert Cahn, on behalf of S.T.O.P. - Surveillance Technology Oversight Project
Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez, on behalf of Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center
Alyssa Aguilera, on behalf of VOCAL-NY
Lea Giddins, on behalf of Women Creating Change
November 10, 2022