Menchaca Demands More Information From Trump Administration For Families Awaiting Reunification
City Council member Carlos Menchaca (D-Sunset Park, Red Hook), Chair of the Committee on Immigration, alongside City Council Speaker Corey Johnson released a letter last week calling on President Donald Trump’s administration to release further information on the government’s plan to reunify immigrant families.
In the open letter, the lawmakers requested that the U.S. Department of Health and Human (DHSS) Services, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Attorney General’s Office release information on the status of families who have been affected by the Administration’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy implemented in May. Though no actual law exists mandating the separation of families crossing the border illegally, Trump’s strict immigration policy calls for the prosecution of all individuals who illegally enter the United States.
The policy has the effect of separating parents from their children when they enter the country together, because parents are referred for prosecution and the children are placed in the custody of a sponsor, such as a relative or foster home, or held in a shelter. More than 650 children were separated from their parents during a two-week period in May as a result of the new approach being implemented, according to initial reports.
According to Menchaca’s office, the Administration has yet to comply or provide any information on a plan to reunify these families, despite an order from a federal judge issues three weeks ago.
“The New York City Council stands ready to ensure that all children awaiting reunification or previously reunified but living in New York City, as well as those who will remain in the City while pursuing their immigration cases, have access to the legal and social work services they need. However, to this day, we are still forced to rely on unofficial, sometimes leaked, information provided by employees and investigative reporters. We do not even have a verified count of the number of separated children in the City or those who have been reunited with parents, to date,” read the letter.
“This situation is untenable and unacceptable. We must have accurate and timely information so that we can provide these children with appropriate services,” continued the letter,” continued the letter.
Mosley Continues Fight For Voting Reform As Charter Commission Rejects IRV
Assembly member Walter T. Mosley (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights) is continuing his fight for Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) in the wake of the Mayoral Charter Revision Commission’s lack of support for the voting change.
Last week ,the Commission released a resolution on recommendations to change the city charter that included instructing its staff to create ballot proposals related to enhancing the municipal campaign finance system, increasing civic engagement and improving the role and structure of the city’s 59 community boards but did not include IRV.
With IRV, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If a candidate earns more than half of the votes – that is, more than half of first choices – then that candidate wins. If not, all but the top two vote-getters are eliminated, and ballots from the eliminated candidates go to the runoff finalist who is ranked next on each ballot. The winner will earn a majority of the instant runoff vote in this head-to-head contest without voters having to vote a second time.
The recommendations come just months ahead of the commission’s final report, expected later this year. The recommendations announced last week will be on the November ballot for voters to decide upon. In order for IRV to become law it can take either state legislation to make it a statewide law or it can be done locally on the municipality level.
“While the Commission declined to include instant runoff voting in their recommendations, I look forward to considering other ways to implement IRV through state legislation. There are many options we have to reform our election systems through IRV. New York City should continue to review instant runoff voting as a way to improve voter turnout and save money,” said Mosley.
Maisel To Host Mayoral Town Hall
City Council member Alan Maisel (D-Mill Basin, Canarsie, Flatlands, Bergen Beach, Floyd Bennett Field, Gerritsen Beach, Marine Park, Plum Beach) will host a town hall alongside Mayor Bill de Blasio this week.
All residents, local faith and community service organizations, advocates, educators and elected officials from City Council district 46 are invited to attend.
The event will give constituents of District 39 an opportunity to ask the Mayor direct questions regarding issues with housing, transportation, parking and more as members of the Mayor’s city agencies will be on hand to answer specific questions.
This event is presented in conjunction with: Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries, State Senator Roxanne Persaud, and Assembly member Jaime Williams.
The event is slated for 6: 30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 23, at the Hebrew Educational Society, at 9502 Seaview Avenue in Canarsie.
Doors open at 5: 30 p.m. and close at 7 p.m.
