Dromm, Moya Laud City’s Third Annual “State of Our Immigrant City” Report
City Council Members Daniel Dromm (D-Elmhurst, Jackson Heights) and Francisco Moya (D-East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Corona, LaGuardia Airport) yesterday lauded the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) release yesterday of its third annual “State of the City Immigrant” report.
The report includes new and updated data on the demographic characteristics of immigrant New Yorkers. Notably, this year’s Annual Report analyzes trends and shifts in these demographic characteristics over the last decade—from 2008 to 2018. It also outlines 2019 activities and programming in detail.
Major new findings include:
· The poverty rate among immigrant New Yorkers is higher than for New Yorkers born in the United States. Additionally, the poverty rate for undocumented immigrants is 28.8 percent, higher than the 25.6 percent for green card holders and immigrants with other statuses.
· For the first time in this decade, the City experienced a decline of about 75,000 immigrant residents in 2018 – and the drop among non-citizens compared to other groups was more pronounced.
· The level of uninsured immigrant New Yorkers declined from 35 percent to 21 percent in over a five-year period.
Additional notable statistics from the report about immigrant New Yorkers include:
Population:
· New Yorkers by Immigration Status: 63% U.S.-born citizens; 21% naturalized citizens; 11% green card holders or other status; 6% undocumented.
· Top Ten Countries of Birth for Immigrant New Yorkers, from Highest Population to Lowest: Dominican Republic, China, Mexico, Jamaica, Guyana, Ecuador, Bangladesh, Haiti, India, and Colombia.
· Top Ten Languages of Immigrant New Yorkers with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), in Order: Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Bengali, Haitian Creole, Korean, Arabic, French, Polish, and Urdu.
· Nearly 60 percent of New Yorkers live in family households with at least one immigrant.
· About one million New Yorkers live in mixed-status households, in which at least one undocumented person lives with other persons who have legal status.
Economy:
· Over three-quarters of undocumented immigrants (age 16 and older) are in the labor force, compared to 64 percent of all New Yorkers.
· Immigrant New Yorkers contributed $232 billion to the city’s GDP, about a quarter of its total.
“This report makes several facts clear: immigrants are an important part of the fabric that makes up NYC, yet they are at risk of marginalization due to inadequate healthcare, financial insecurity and a hostile federal administration,” said Dromm. “Though there is still much work to do, this report illustrates how our city has stepped up for immigrant families in a big way over the past year. Its findings will help NYC agencies improve services offered to our constituents—from expanding language access to better cultural competency training for city staff, and much more.
“With three out of five households including at least one immigrant New Yorker, it’s clear that foreign-born residents are deeply woven into the fabric of this diverse city. I applaud the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs for assembling this report and I’m particularly heartened to see the portion of uninsured immigrants dropping across the city,” said Moya.
Addabbo Calls Absentee Ballot Order a Step in the Right Direction
State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth, parts of South Ozone Park, Ridgewood, Woodside, The Rockaways) yesterday said he supports the Governor’s Executive Order related to the accessibility of absentee ballots and has become a co-sponsor on a piece of legislation aimed at expanding absentee voting.
Governor Cuomo recently announced that New York’s presidential primary, which was scheduled for April 28, has been postponed to June 23 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that New York residents will be able to cast an absentee vote even if they don’t meet the usual requirements.
Under Cuomo’s Executive Order, residents who wish to vote via absentee ballots must apply for one by either printing out the application, visiting their local Board of Elections office, by calling 1-866-VOTE-NYC (1-866-868-3692), or by mail. Once they receive their ballot, they must fill it out in blue or black ink and send it back to their Board of Elections.
The bill, which Addabbo co-sponsors, requires local boards of elections to mail an absentee ballot to every qualified voter at the address at which they are registered no later than 30 days before the scheduled election is to be held in the event of a state disaster emergency. This removes the requirement of voters having to request an absentee ballot during a state of emergency.
“New Yorkers should not have to risk their health and the health of others in order to exercise their right to vote during a health crisis,” Addabbo said. “I am proud to be a co-sponsor on this bill that will help protect New Yorkers during the Coronavirus pandemic, and any other unforeseen emergencies in the future that happen during an election year, which would prevent citizens from safely casting their votes at their regular polling places.”
Sanders Presents Life After Coronavirus Virtual Conversation
State Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village, Far Rockaway) is hosting a ‘Life After Coronavirus Virtual Conversation’.
The live, interactive, virtual conversation on Facebook will feature a panel of experts who will examine how business and economics will be forever changed by the coronavirus and how merchants, particularly in communities of color, can survive and thrive in the new normal.
Guest speakers will include:
- Dr. Julius Garvey (son of Marcus Garvey)
- NY Assembly Member Clyde Vanel (Chairman of Committee on Internet and New Technology)
- Annette Runcie (President of Merchant Association of Rosedale, Laurelton & Springfield Gardens (MARLS)
The event is slated for 5 p.m., tomorrow, April 16. Go to Facebook.com/StateSenatorJamesSandersJr/.
Stringer Announces Online Workshops For Small Business Owners
City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer announced yesterday a biweekly series of online workshops to expand access to available resources, services, and business opportunities for small businesses and minority and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) impacted by COVID-19.
The Comptroller’s Office will provide presentations via Zoom on a range of topics including financial resources from the federal, state, and city government as well as the private sector, and current business opportunities within city and state procurement. Interpretation services will be available in 12 different languages including American Sign Language, Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Mandarin, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu.
“During this difficult time, we want to make it as simple as possible for M/WBEs and small business owners to navigate available resources and access business opportunities,” said Stringer. “Our multilingual webinar series ensures that businesses have easy access to a one-stop-shop for the most up-to-date and critical information. M/WBEs and local businesses are essential to our economy and identity as a city, and we will do everything in our power to help our small business community rebuild stronger than ever before.”
Webinar sessions for small businesses and M/WBEs impacted by COVID-19 will be held every Tuesday and Thursday starting Thursday, April 16 through Thursday, May 14. To RSVP, click here or email diversity@comptroller.nyc.gov. Interpretation services must be requested upon RSVP at least two days before each session.
