In Change, Bloomberg Backs Obstacle to Deportation

By Sam Dolnick September 30, 2011

In a significant reversal, the Bloomberg administration Luis Martinez, a spokesman for Immigration and said Friday that it would support a City Council bill that Customs Enforcement, declined to comment on the would hamper federal authorities’ ability to detain, and legislation. eventually deport, foreign-born inmates on Rikers Island who are about to be released. Mr. Bloomberg’s decision comes as the Obama administration has placed a priority on deporting The decision is an important victory for the Council noncitizen criminals who pose a threat to the public, speaker, Christine C. Quinn, the sponsor of the bill, which while focusing less on illegal immigrants who do not pose is now almost certain to become law, and for immigrant a threat. advocates, who have long assailed the city’s cooperation with immigration agents based at the prison. Supporters of more restrictive immigration laws have criticized the Council bill as a get-out-of-jail-free card for Corrections Department officials routinely share lists of illegal immigrants. Jessica Vaughan of the Center for foreign-born inmates with immigration authorities, who Immigration Studies inWashington has said it amounts to then take custody of, detain and deport thousands of “playing Russian roulette with public safety.” people who had been charged with misdemeanors and felonies. The arrangement is common across the country. Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito, a Democrat who represents East Harlemand a co-sponsor of the bill, The bill would not end the practice, known as the dismissed that charge, saying the measure would affect criminal detainer program, in New York City. But it only “people who do not pose a risk to safety and would prevent corrections officials from transferring security.” inmates to federal custody, even immigrants in theUnited Statesillegally, if prosecutors declined to press charges Ms. Mark-Viverito also said that curtailing the program against them, and if they had no convictions or would save the city a significant amount of money, outstanding warrants, had not previously been ordered possibly tens of millions of dollars. deported and did not show up on the terrorist watch list. Ms. Quinn and Ms. Mark-Viverito had planned a rally on As a result, the immigrants would be released if they were Sunday at an Upper Manhattan church to draw support not defendants in criminal cases, regardless of whether for the legislation. The rally now will most likely be more federal officials wanted them deported. of a celebration, Ms. Quinn’s office said.

“The criminal detainer program had become the The City Council will hold a hearing on the issue on immigrant dragnet program,” Ms. Quinn said. “We don’t Monday, when Robert M. Morgenthau, the former support that.” longtime Manhattan district attorney, is expected to testify in support of the bill. The Council is expected to Ms. Quinn, a likely mayoral candidate in 2013, said the vote on it before the end of the year. bill could keep hundreds of people, perhaps as many as 1,000, from being deported every year. Advocates for immigrants hailed the mayor’s decision as an important step toward protecting the rights of foreign- In the past, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and his advisers born New Yorkers. have defended the city’s cooperation with immigration officials as a matter of public safety. But after extensive “There’s really an evolving consensus about the negotiations with Ms. Quinn’s office, the administration corrosive impact of an aggressive deportation decided to support the bill. strategy,” said Andrew Friedman of Make the Road New York. “This is a clear statement that “Our goal is always to protect public safety and maintain it is bad for New York in so many ways to national security, while ensuringNew York remains the facilitate the deportation of New Yorkers.” most immigrant-friendly city in the nation,” said John Feinblatt, the mayor’s chief policy adviser. “This strikes the right balance.”

Council Bill Would Curb Assistance by Rikers to Immigration Officials

By SAM DOLNICK

August 1, 2011

Rikers Island officials have long compiled lists of foreign-born inmates who end up in their custody. They routinely give this information to federal immigration officials, who have their own office at the jail. Deportations often follow.

With the city’s assistance, immigration authorities annually detain and deport thousands of inmates charged with a range of offenses, from misdemeanors for theft to felony drug dealing.

But now the City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, wants to curtail this practice by permitting the jail to cooperate with the federal immigration authorities only in limited circumstances.

Ms. Quinn is proposing legislation, to be introduced this month, that could touch off tensions over immigrant rights between the City Council and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who has defended the program in the past.

“On Rikers, there is a dragnet as it relates to every foreign-born person,” Ms. Quinn said. “Stop needlessly and excessively deporting people.”

Ms. Quinn, a Manhattan Democrat who is a candidate for mayor in 2013, added that she had deep support on the City Council, saying, “I could pass this bill and override a veto.”

Opponents said the bill would improperly tie the hands of immigration officers, threatening public safety and weakening federal law.

The role of states and localities in immigration enforcement is a highly contentious issue across the United States. Some jurisdictions assert that the federal government has not done enough and have tightened their own laws. Others have characterized the federal response as overbearing, and refused to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In June, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo suspended New York’s participation in a key federal program, called Secure Communities, that makes it easier for immigration authorities to access the fingerprints of everyone booked into a local jail and to begin deportation proceedings against noncitizens.

The program at Rikers, which also operates in jails across the country, is supposed to be aimed at criminals who have committed serious offenses.

Federal authorities at Rikers place holds, or “detainers,” on noncitizen inmates they want to deport. The detainers let the city jail hold inmates for 48 hours after their scheduled release, so they can be transferred to immigration custody.

Mr. Bloomberg has defended the arrangement, calling it a public safety measure. Administration officials declined to comment on the proposed bill, saying they had not yet seen it.

Proponents of tough immigration laws said the City Council was impinging on federal jurisdiction.

“It’s a bad idea, unequivocally,” said Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, which favors reduced immigration. “They are essentially playing Russian roulette with public safety and putting people at risk needlessly, all because of the politics of immigration.”

Daniel J. Halloran, a Republican councilman from Queens, said he was skeptical of the bill’s legality. “You’re legislating in the realm of the federal government,” he said. “Do we even have the authority to do this?”

Ms. Quinn and other supporters of the legislation, including Robert M. Morgenthau, the former Manhattan district attorney, contend that the practice largely sweeps up inmates without criminal records — for example, people who are arrested and sent to Rikers but then have charges dropped.

In 2009, about 50 percent of the inmates flagged by federal authorities had no prior conviction, and about 20 percent had a misdemeanor as their highest prior conviction, according to statistics compiled by the City Council.

The legislation, co-sponsored by Melissa Mark-Viverito, a Democrat who represents East Harlem, and Daniel Dromm, a Democrat who represents Jackson Heights, Queens, would not end the program entirely.

It would instead forbid prison officials to hold for an extra 48 hours immigrants who were not defendants in pending criminal cases, had no prior convictions or outstanding warrants, had not been ordered deported previously and did not show up on the terrorist watch list.

That means that immigrants, even if they were here illegally, would be released if prosecutors declined to press charges against them, no matter if federal officials wanted them deported.

Luis Martinez, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, declined to comment on the legislation, but said the agency “will continue to pursue its mandate to protect public safety by aggressively seeking out foreign-born criminals before they can be released back into the public.”

But Andrew Friedman, co-executive director of Make the Road New York, part of a coalition that worked on the bill, called the federal policy misguided.

“It’s a tremendous step forward for the city to say clearly to the feds, ‘We’re not willing to undermine our relationship with New Yorkers in order to facilitate unjust deportations.’ ” he said.

Push to limit immigration authorities in NYC jails

AUGUST 17, 2011

of the council and its powerful leader, Speaker A longstanding information-sharing arrangement Christine Quinn, is expected to pass. between local jails and federal immigration enforcement goes too far and detains too many The proposal comes amid a nationwide debate immigrants who would otherwise be allowed to go over Secure Communities, a federal program that free, City Council members said Wednesday in requires local law enforcement to share with introducing legislation limiting which immigrant immigration authorities the fingerprints of people inmates can be transferred to federal custody. they arrest. In June, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he was suspending New York's New York City jails have shared information about participation in the program, which had been rolled inmates with immigration authorities for at least 15 out in many counties around the state but not New years. They also hold prisoners who are awaiting York City. Massachusetts and Illinois rejected the transfer to federal facilities. But the bill's sponsors program, only to be told they couldn't. say city officials shouldn't be cooperating so extensively with the federal government. Roughly 100,000 people are admitted to city jails each year, with most housed in the Rikers Island "We are getting people ensnared in a broken complex, according to the Department of immigration system," Councilwoman Melissa Correction. The council, after analyzing data from Mark-Viverito said at a news conference outside the jails, found that 3,000 to 4,000 are deported as City Hall. a result of cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Last year, half of those Supporters [including Make the Road New people had no previous criminal record; many York] of her bill say city tax dollars are going were arrested for misdemeanors. toward enforcing immigration laws that should be reformed. They argue the policy separates families With support from 35 of the 51 council members, and corrodes public safety by making immigrants the measure could override an expected veto from fearful of going to the police. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whom council members criticized for leaving the policy in place The legislation would prevent jails from placing as he campaigned nationally for immigration immigration detainers on people who don't have a reform. Spokesmen for the mayor's office and ICE criminal record and aren't convicted in their current said neither comment on pending legislation. case. It would also stop the city from notifying the federal government of the inmate's release if he or Council member Peter Vallone, chairman of the she doesn't have outstanding warrants, was not public safety committee, said he had written to the previously ordered deported and does not appear Department of Homeland Security to express his on a terrorist watch list. opposition to the bill.

It is slated to be discussed in hearings this fall. "I don't think we should be taking any actions that The measure, which has the support of a majority hinder the federal government's ability to protect us from terrorists or criminals," he said.

Complaints That Rent Is Illegally High Often Languish

By CARA BUCKLEY August 5, 2011

Relations between Maria de los Santos and the the legal rent landlord of her railroad apartment in Bushwick, Brooklyn, that they could soured after she filed a complaint in 2007 over lack of heat. collect, which, But they worsened, she said, after she discovered she had she said, often been overcharged in rent and appealed to the state housing did not cover agency for help. maintenance or routine repairs. Ms. de los Santos said the agency did not process her complaint for 18 months and, according to the agency, she “I’m not has yet to be paid the $10,000 that the landlord owes her. All denying that it the while, she said, her landlord took advantage of the delay occurs, but in to harass her. some cases, there could be “He came to the store,” said Ms. de los Santos, who legal reasons, valid reasons, for what’s happening,” Ms. runs a flower shop, “and he said, ‘If you’re still fighting Bernstein said. “You have skewed situations where tenants for this, why don’t you just leave?’ ” are subsidized by the owner, and the owner attempts to balance the scales.” A tenant advocacy group says Ms. de los Santos’s case is not unusual. In a survey of 200 rent-regulated apartments, She questioned the sources of the information in Make the the group, Make the Road New York, found that Road New York’s report (see also below), which is based landlords for nearly half the units had registered rents above on rent histories of 200 households, some of which came what they could legally charge. Yet because enforcement is from rent histories collected by other community largely complaint-driven, the state housing agency usually organizations. investigated rent increases only after tenants complained. Judith Goldiner, a supervising lawyer at the Legal Aid Processing the complaints, the advocacy group found, often Society, said many tenants were unaware that their took at least a year. apartments were rent regulated, and often too intimidated to challenge their landlords. “It’s not anything radical we’re asking for,” said Hilary Klein, a lead organizer at Make the Road New After Ms. de los Santos, 32, discovered the overcharge — York, “just that tenants’ rights under the law be she was paying $1,080 and it was supposed to be, according enforced.” to rent records, $927 — she began paying the lesser amount.

Landlords of rent-regulated apartments are required to Her landlord, Manuel Gonzalez, paid her about $3,600 for report the legal rents for their units, as well as the actual the overcharges, but Ms. De los Santos said the check did amount they charge, to the housing agency, New York State not clear. Homes and Community Renewal. The state agency ruled this year that Mr. Gonzalez owed her Christopher Browne, deputy commissioner for policy and a total of $10,000, less the $3,600. He has yet to pay, and communications at Homes and Community Renewal, said Ms. de los Santos has appealed to the state agency for Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo had recently overhauled rent laws. help.

“Enforcement is one of the things that is being Reached by phone, Mr. Gonzalez initially said he did not strengthened,” he said. know that his check had been returned. But he then said he was having difficulties with his properties and was short of The agency is responsible for administering laws that govern money. 875,000 rent-regulated apartments statewide. Last year, 1,892 cases accusing landlords of overcharges were filed, and “We’re going to fix the problem with this,” he said. “We’re the agency found in favor of the tenants 670 times. going to pay and we got no money, O.K.?”

Roberta Bernstein, president of the Small Property Owners Before he could be asked about Ms. de los Santos’s claim of New York, a landlord association, said that while rent that he harassed her, he hung up. overcharges did happen, landlords were often hamstrung by

Hospitals in Brooklyn Defended at Hearing

By ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS

July 28, 2011

A stream of hospital administrators, a state assemblyman, doctors and advocates for immigrants [including members of Make the Road New York] took the microphone at a sometimes raucous hearing in Downtown Brooklyn on Thursday to plead with state officials not to close, merge or shrink troubled hospitals in the borough.

The advocates identified at least 5 of the 17 hospitals in the borough — those serving some of Brooklyn’s poorest patients — that they believe are endangered: Interfaith Medical Center, Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, Brooklyn Hospital Center, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center and Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center.

Were they to close, 11,000 people would lose jobs, and other hospitals would have to absorb 325,000 emergency room visits, 83,000 hospital admissions and about 760,000 clinic visits, according to industry data.

“I know you want to be closing more beds,” Dr. Marylyn Martin-Naar, director of primary care for Interfaith Medical Center, told the panel. Interfaith’s operating revenues are 29 percent less than its expenses, according to data presented by a state official at the hearing.

State officials declined to say on Thursday whether they were contemplating closings or mergers, but made it clear they were looking for savings. They suggested that Brooklyn had too many hospital beds and said that patients were using hospitals when they should be using outpatient doctors and clinics.

The hearing, held at New York City College of Technology, was a project of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s Medicaid Redesign Team, created to cut rising Medicaid costs in the state. Stephen Berger, the Brooklyn work group’s chairman, said the panel’s goal was to listen to the community and get ideas that would improve the quality and “financial viability” of health care in Brooklyn.

But most people in the audience appeared to believe that a hidden agenda was to cut hospital beds, especially because about five years ago, Mr. Berger, the chairman of a private equity investment firm, was chairman of a state commission whose recommendations led to the closing and consolidation of hospitals across the state.

Any downsizing would come on the heels of the closing of St. Vincent’s Manhattan Hospital in Greenwich Village in April 2010 and North General Hospital in Harlem in June 2010, and — just announced on Wednesday — Peninsula Hospital Center in Far Rockaway, Queens.

Kenneth E. Raske, president of the Greater New York Hospital Association, an industry group, told the panel that so-called safety-net hospitals, serving the poorest patients, were in trouble not just in Brooklyn but all over the state, because of state decisions under former Govs. Eliot Spitzer and David A. Paterson.

For a while, he said, the state was giving higher Medicaid payments to hospitals with high proportions of poor patients, but that was stopped about three years ago, as state officials decided to put the money toward primary and preventive care instead.

“This is not bad luck,” Mr. Raske told the panel. While the change in policy was well intentioned, he said, “unfortunately, it look a lot of money out of a lot of safety-net hospitals, and it took a lot of money out of the Health and Hospitals Corporation,” the public hospital system.

Dr. Jeff Wuhantu, an emergency room doctor at New York Methodist Hospital, which is one of the stronger hospitals in Brooklyn, said shifting care from hospitals to doctors’ offices and clinics sounded good in theory. But the reality, he said, was that primary care was lacking in poor neighborhoods and that patients would be left floundering until it was developed.

Closing hospitals, he said, would force patients to ride the subway to get care and to wait even longer hours than they already do in emergency rooms.

“When St. Vincent’s closed, we felt the reverberation here in Brooklyn,” he told the panel.

Becca Telzak, health advisory coordinator at Make the Road New York, an immigrant advocacy group, said many Latino immigrants in Bushwick went to Wyckoff and to Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center for care because they lacked health insurance and did not have primary care doctors.

Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez, who represents Bushwick, told the panel — to cheering and shouting from the audience — that it was unfair of the state to consider “closure or diluting” hospitals in Brooklyn “if there’s three hospitals within three blocks in Manhattan.”

Ivan Nichols, a real estate broker whose office is about 15 blocks from Interfaith, said closing the hospital would devastate the neighborhood, because people would move elsewhere looking for work.

The most troubled hospitals are concentrated in north-central Brooklyn, including Bedford-Stuyvesant, Bushwick, Crown Heights, East New York and Williamsburg, all neighborhoods that have high levels of poverty and chronic health problems like obesity and diabetes.

Several hospitals in Brooklyn are barely breaking even or have negative operating margins, including Brookdale, with a negative 10 percent margin; Lutheran Medical Center, 1 percent; Brooklyn, 0 percent; Long Island College Hospital, negative 7 percent; and Interfaith, negative 29 percent, according to a presentation at the hearing on Thursday by Richard Cook, deputy commissioner of the Office of Health Systems Management.

Mr. Cook said many Brooklyn residents were already deserting local hospitals. About one-quarter of Brooklyn patients seek care outside the borough, especially for surgery and pediatric, newborn and psychiatric care, state officials said at the hearing.

Sex Education Ruling Elicits Praise, Scorn

By MICHAEL HOWARD SAUL and LISA FLEISHER

AUGUST 13, 2011

Mayor Michael Bloomberg defended the city's decision to reintroduce a sex-education class requirement into the nation's largest public school system, declaring on Friday that parents have failed to teach their children about the facts of life.

During his weekly radio show, a caller questioned why the mayor won't just let parents educate their children about sex, and Mr. Bloomberg replied: "You just can't say, 'Well, the parents should do it,' because the parents aren't doing it. The evidence is there."

The mayor added: "You have a lot of young men who father kids and, then, don't realize it's their responsibility for the next 20 years....Young kids are getting into their fecund years, so, [education is] certainly important. You can argue for the elderly, maybe, you don't need it. But you certainly need it for this group."

Mr. Bloomberg's comments on the new policy were his first since schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott sent a letter to principals on Tuesday night outlining the city's plans to require all middle- and high-school students to take sex-education classes during one semester. The policy is slated to begin during the second half of the upcoming school year.

The state currently requires a one-semester, daily health-education course in both middle and high school, but doesn't mandate sex education. Many city schools have, on their own, added sex education to the curriculum, but now the city is requiring that they do so.

For middle-school students, whose ages range from 10 to 13, there will be a verbal lesson on how to use a condom. High-school students, whose ages range from 13 to 17, will also get a verbal lesson on how to use a condom, and they will also be able to go to the health resource room, where condoms are distributed, for a demonstration.

As with the city's HIV/AIDS curriculum, parents will have the power to opt out of specific lessons involving birth control.

The exact specifics of the curriculum are still being hammered out.

"We'll be communicating to schools in the fall about what areas must be covered," an education department official said on Friday.

The new policy and the mayor's comments during his radio show elicited a mix of praise and criticism from parents, civic leaders and religious groups.

Fran Gaudio, 45 years old, said parents can't do it all, adding that it's important to have lessons coming from other authority figures. She said she wants her 12-year-old son to learn about sex at Kingsborough Secondary School, where he will soon be starting seventh grade.

"You can't be with your child 24/7, so they have to make good choices," she said. "Sometimes children don't want to speak to their parents about it."

Gloria Nunez-Pacheco, a 41-year-old mother of three in the Bronx, said she firmly believes it's the parents' place to teach their children about sex because they know their children better than anyone. She specifically criticized the mayor for suggesting parents have failed to do their job.

"Hasn't the school system failed all our kids here in New York?" she retorted, when told about the mayor's remarks. "They already have failed our kids in academics; you think they're going to do a good job teaching them about sex? I don't think so. He just put his foot in his mouth."

Andrew Friedman, co-executive director of the immigrant advocacy group Make the Road New York, said he's heard mostly supportive comments from his members, who are for the most part Latin-American.

"It feels shocking and irresponsible to not provide [students] with information," he said. "The families we work with are supportive."

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York opposed the mandate, saying that telling children the consequences of having sex alongside handing out condoms or explaining their use would be delivering "mixed messages." The church also said it objected to the midsummer announcement of the new policy without parental or community input.

"What we're really saying to them through this is, 'Look, we know you can't really control yourselves, so here's how to use a condom,'" spokesman Joseph Zwilling said. "'Well, I guess it's OK, as long as I use a condom.' And that's a terrible message."

In his letter to principals, Mr. Walcott said he believes the public schools must play an important role in educating children about sex and what could happen if they engage in risky behavior. "I strongly believe this policy is overdue for our school system," he said.

Council Member Fernando Cabrera, a Bronx Democrat, and Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long, both of whom have come out in opposition to the proposal, said they believe the school system should focus on reading and math, rather than the birds and the bees.

"The mayor has his priorities wrong," Mr. Long said. "It's part of the nanny-state mentality that he has that the government and not parents can, in fact, do what has to be done for their children."

Mr. Bloomberg said he hopes the new lessons will teach the city's youth that sex comes with "real-world consequences that you're going to have to live with."

"Maybe you want to think long and hard before you father a child, or have a child," he said.

Bloomy's Wrong on Deportation

By Andrew Friedman [Co-Executive Director of Make the Road NY] and Peter Markowitz September 7, 2011

Mayor Bloomberg speaks eloquently about the valuable gateway to deportation and thus are afraid to cooperate contributions of immigrants to our country and is publicly with the police. That makes us all less safe. committed to creating a path to legalization for millions of immigrants like Gustavo Salazar. Yet, Bloomberg's own Sadly, Bloomberg has been hesitant to disentangle New policies betray his public commitment. York City's local criminal justice system from civil deportation efforts. President Obama, for his part, has The Bloomberg administration is subsidizing and pushed forward the most rapid expansion of such supporting the deportations of New Yorkers like Salazar entanglement in this country's history through the and thereby eroding trust between immigrant misnamed Secure Communities Program which redirects communities and the police. Thankfully, bold leadership criminal fingerprint background checks to screen from City Council members like Speaker Christine Quinn individuals for possible deportation. Despite the rhetoric, and Melissa Mark-Viverito, and from Gov. Cuomo at the that the program is designed to deport hardened state level, promises to begin bringing the reality in line criminals, almost three-quarters of the people deported with the rhetoric here in New York. through Secure Communities are noncriminals or were picked up for lower level offenses, such as traffic offenses Salazar came to New York from Mexico like so many or petty juvenile mischief. generations of immigrants before him, seeking a better life for himself and his family. For years, he worked In many ways, the worst aspects of Secure Communities tirelessly supporting himself, his mother back in Mexico, are already in place in New York. Correction already and our local economy. All of that ended abruptly when provides federal immigration authorities access to its Salazar was accused of stealing candy bars. A low bail internal databases to screen individuals for deportation was set and he was sent to a jail in the Bronx run by the and will detain anyone with an immigration hold - even if New York City Correction Department. Ultimately, the he or she has been exonerated of all charges. A coalition criminal charges were dismissed but, tragically, it was too of community and faith-based organizations has been late to save him from deportation. working for years to urge Bloomberg to reconsider these misguided policies. As they do with thousands of immigrants in Correction custody every year, within a day or two of entering jail, Thankfully, many state and city leaders have recognized federal immigration authorities placed a hold on Salazar - the dangers of 10 cal entanglement with deportation and asking Correction to hold him for deportation. If Salazar have begun to right these wrongs. Cuomo recently had been a citizen, his bail would have been paid, the announced that New York State was suspending its criminal charges dismissed, and a horrible but brief participation in the Secure Communities program, citing episode in his life would have been over. the public safety dangers caused by the program. Since that announcement, however, the Obama administration Instead, because of the city's misguided policy of using has made clear its intention to force its ill-conceived local taxpayer dollars to facilitate the deportation of Secure Communities program on New York. valued members of our community, Salazar's life was turned upside down and he was deported to Mexico. For Thankfully, this week, Quinn teamed with Mark-Viverito to Salazar, and countless other New Yorkers each year, it introduce legislation which will ensure that, with or without did not matter that the criminal charges were dismissed. Secure Communities, our city taxpayer dollars will no Salazar lost his livelihood and the life he built for himself longer be used to deport individuals who have been in New York, and New York City lost a kind and exonerated of all criminal charges against them. hardworking New Yorker. For Salazar, this legislation comes too late, but it will Salazar's plight is the result of a dangerous trend in protect thousands of New Yorkers like him who will be immigration enforcement that spans from Arizona to here able to continue contributing to our great city. The city in New York City. The trend is one of increasing has the opportunity to save tens of millions of dollars, and entanglement of local law enforcement agencies in the to improve public safety to boot. Quinn has stated publicly business of deportation. Deportation charges are civil, not that she has the votes necessary to override a mayoral criminal. Law enforcement leaders have long recognized veto on this bill. Let's hope she doesn't have to and that the significant public safety dangers that arise when Bloomberg seizes this important opportunity. immigrants view the criminal justice system as the

City Council Challenges Obama Administration on Deportations

by Jane C. Timm Aug 22, 2011

Members of the New York City Council aren't waiting Detained and Deported for the Obama administration to fix the immigration ICE's Criminal Alien Program aims to "screen inmates system. and place detainers on criminal aliens to process them for removal before they are released to the general New York has long been a sanctuary for immigrants public," according to ICE. Under the program, the city and now, a majority of City Council members has gives names of people arrested -- whether or not they moved to take on the Obama administration and are convicted of any crime -- to the federal agency, current city policy in an effort to reduce the threat of which then can check whether the person is here deportation for some of New York's undocumented legally. If not, ICE then requests that the person be residents. detained after his or her scheduled release so ICE can arrange to transfer the immigrant to a federal facility, In a bill introduced on Wednesday Intro 656), City usually far from New York, to await deportation Council members propose to remove city funding that proceedings. supports Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts to detain immigrants who have been cleared of Opponent of the Criminal Alien Program say that far their crimes and have no previous criminal too often it sends innocent people and petty criminals background. into ICE's hands.

City Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito, a leading More than 50 percent of all prison inmates who are sponsor of a bill to limit the city's cooperation with discharged to the ICE have no criminal record, the federal immigration officials, spoke at a rally before the council bill states; for 20 percent of all the inmates who measure was introduced on Wednesday."This is the are discharged to ICE their highest offense is a right message to send to the administration," misdemeanor. In New York, violations lower than a Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito of Manhattan, a misdemeanor and certain crimes committed by youths lead sponsor of the bill, told Gotham Gazette. "We are not considered criminal. The detentions of inmates won't be complicit in ensnaring New York City for ICE cost tens of millions of dollars, according to residents in a broken immigration system." Make the Road New York, a nonprofit that works with immigrants, and the federal government only On Thursday, the Obama administration announced subsidizes a portion of that. that it would suspend deportation proceedings against many undocumented immigrants who pose no threat The bill already has 35 cosponsors — enough to to national security or public safety. overrule a mayoral veto — and may find more after the hearings. Most notably, it also has backing from Peter Markowitz, director of the Immigration Justice Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who is one of the Clinic at Cardozo Law School, has doubt about what sponsors. President Barack Obama's promise will really mean. According to council sources, Mayor Michael "We don’t know how this is going to be implemented," Bloomberg – normally an outspoken supporter of Markowitz said, noting the announcement's vague immigrants' rights — does not support the bill. A language. "We're past the point with the Obama spokesman for him noted that the mayor does not take administration where we take them at their word on public stances on legislation before its hearings and immigration issues. Until we see some action, but added, "We are glad that the council has begun localities need to do what they need to do what they considering the public safety aspects of this issue, and need to do to protect their communities." we look forward to reviewing the draft legislation." Earlier this year, in a letter to the New York Times, entitled to a trial on a separate criminal charge before John Feinblatt, the mayor's chief policy adviser, linked we even share information with the federal the detention to the city's efforts to prevent terrorism. government," he told Gotham Gazette. "As our country has learned tragically, when government agencies fail to cooperate and share Vallone wrote to the federal Department of Homeland information, not only is public safety compromised, so Security expressing his opposition to the bill in is national security," Feinblatt wrote. December 2010 and said that a delegation of 10 people from the department visited him to discuss the Quinn, who regularly sides with the mayor, is standing issue and his support of their work. "They believe what against him on this; Mark-Viverito said it is because they are doing in our jails is absolutely necessary to she sees it as "the right thing to do." keep our cities safe," he said. The delegation also later met with Quinn to discuss the bill. "I think that proves For many, the deportations occur a matter of timing how important this is," Vallone said. and limited resources — not because of a crime. Opponents of the bill say that if passed, it will threaten Sarah Deri Oshiro, an attorney at Bronx Defenders, a public safety. nonprofit that provides legal services to Bronx residents charged with crimes, described a former "This is a political decision. They don't think our client, Gustavo, a 32-year-old man who had been in immigration should be enforced and they’ll do anything New York City for almost a decade. After being to thwart it," said Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the arrested for a having fake green card in 2004, he Federation for American Immigration Reform, which never appeared for trial for fear of deportation. advocates for stricter immigration policies.

When he was arrested a second time — accused of The bill's introduction takes place amid a larger stealing a box of Snickers — a higher bail was set. "No immigration and states right debate over the Obama one could run down to jail and post $1,000 that night, administration's Secure Communities, a program that so he ends up having to spend the night in jail which is shares fingerprint information of all undocumented the end of your story, if you're an undocumented immigrants with ICE in order to speed ICE's immigrant," Oshiro said. deportation of felons. Gov. Andrew Cuomo made New York the second state – Illinois was the first — to Gutavo was later cleared of the candy bar charge, but withdraw from the program earlier this summer. it was too late -- ICE had already placed a detainer "Based on evidence to date, it appears the program in hold on Gustavo, and he was deported back to Mexico New York is failing in this regard and is actually shortly after. undermining law enforcement," the governor's office said in a press release in June. These kinds of cases are "much more common than people believe," Oshiro said. In August, however, the Obama administration informed governors that they did not have the right to Safety Issues leave the program and that it would be implemented Their occurrence – and the city government's anyway. New York, Illinois and Massachusetts, which complicity in such strict federal immigration also has opted out, are fighting this decision. proceedings — erodes the trust between immigrants and law enforcement, bill supporters say. "This bill will do what it proclaims to do with or without the Secure Communities program," said Markowitz, "What it means on the ground is that immigrant who was on a team commissioned by Make the Road women who are victims of domestic violence are to study New York's immigration policies. "The number afraid to call the police, immigrants may be afraid of people affected by it would skyrocket, too, if Secure to report crimes, immigrants may be afraid to seek Communities is implemented. The import of this bill services they're eligible for," the co-executive would increase." director of Make the Road New York Andrew Friedman said. If Secure Communities does go into effect here, the city would have to inform ICE of any immigrant it But opponents of the bill aren’t convinced. arrests. This would certainly increase the number of people ICE would seek to detain and perhaps deport, Cops aren't "out there arresting innocent witnesses to but the council bill would keep the city from complying crimes for being illegal immigrants," Councilmember with many of those requests. "Immigration admits that Peter Vallone of Queens said. they cannot force us to hold people on detainers. To the contrary, they've said, 'We know we can't do that,'" "This entire bill operates on the erroneous premise Markowitz said. that the people who enter this country illegally are

Kirsten Gillibrand Plugs Urban Jobs Act In Queens

August 16, 2011 Matt Sledge

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) swung by Jackson Heights, Queens on Tuesday to push a bill she hopes will address the daunting problem of youth unemployment. Called the Urban Jobs Act, the legislation she is sponsoring would send non-profits $20 million nationwide in its first year to give 18 to 24 year olds skills training, mentoring, GED preparation, and more.

The money would be targeted, Gillibrand said, “to help connect the at-risk youth to the jobs that are available now.” Gillibrand’s office estimated that 39% of young blacks and 36% of young Latinos looking for work nationwide were unemployed in July.

For Giovanni Matos, a 22-year-old Latino who has been involved with one such non-profit, Make the Road New York, since he was 14, the senator’s visit to the group's headquarters was welcome news.

Matos described his sometimes troubled teen years. He dropped out of Grover Cleveland High School, he said, because “it never seemed like any of the teachers were dedicated to the work they were doing.”

Then Matos dropped out of another high school, and gave up on working towards a diploma altogether, before the prospect of spending 45 days on Rikers Island for a misdemeanor made him realize he needed to finish his education. Matos said that with the assistance of Make the Road, a community organizing group, he was able to complete his degree at Bushwick Community High School. Make the Road’s youth newspaper also gave him an opportunity to develop his writing skills.

“Make the Road saved my life, literally,” said Matos, who now works as a youth organizer for the non- profit. “I’m from Bushwick. I know what it’s like to have to duck from the window because you hear gunshots ... but Make the Road taught me that there's way more important things than Bushwick. Bushwick needs its help, but Bushwick isn't the only place in the world.”

Compared to some of his peers, Matos is lucky: 200,000 black and Latino youths in New York are out of work and out of school, according to the organization.

The relatively small amount of money Gillibrand is hoping to allocate under the Urban Jobs Act won’t be enough to solve the crisis, even just in New York City, acknowledged Ana Maria Archila, co-executive director of Make the Road.

"The most important contribution" the act could make, she said, would be “raising the flag of how deep of a crisis we have."

“We want to show that the program can work,” Gillibrand said. “If this program turned out to be wildly successful, we would go back and ask for more funds.”

Louis Soares, director of the post-secondary education program at the Center for American Progress, said youth programs were a particularly good use of job and skills training funds because “it's harder to re-engage you in educational activities” the further people move away from their time in school.

Non-profits like Make the Road focus on trying to convince youths not to drop out, and, if they do, trying to help them obtain a GED.

“Catching these folks closer to when they drop out, if you can't stop them from dropping them out and engage them, is a good idea,” Soares said.

Andrew Sum, a Northeastern University professor who studies the youth workforce, said Gillibrand’s program was “barely a drop in the bucket," given the magnitude of the youth unemployment crisis. Right now, he noted, the United States is 6 million jobs short of where it would need to be just to stack up to youth unemployment in the year 2000.

Job and skills training, he said, would only go so far because “the biggest problem is there's just a massive job shortage.”

Sum argued that something on the scale of Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s (D-Ill.) $227 billion jobs bill would be needed to help solve the crisis. He also said he prefers money be spent on wage subsidies for private employers as opposed to funding non-profits, since the former are more likely to offer permanent employment. But he does not oppose an all-of-the-above approach: “we need job creation, plus wage subsides, plus these connecting activities when the jobs are there,” Sum said.

Yet getting any of the above passed in Congress may be tricky. The fiscal year 2011 budget passed by Congress in April cut workforce development programs by 15.3 percent.

Gillibrand hopes to amend her Urban Jobs Act to the re-authorization of the Workforce Investment Act, which is still winding its way through the U.S. Senate. So far neither Gillibrand's bill nor its House companion, sponsored by Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.), have attracted any Republican supporters in Congress.

Elmhurst shopping center gets earful over workers' wages

By Rebecca Henely September 29, 2011

Activist groups marched into the administrative offices of Elmhurst’s Queens Center Mall last Thursday, dropping off 5,500 signatures demanding the mall give their workers higher wages and provide a community space.

“They cannot earn enough to support their families with dignity,” said the Rev. Darrell DaCosta of the mall workers. DaCosta, a member of Queens Congregations United for Action, is the pastor of the St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Coronaand led much of the protest.

While an employee of the mall at one point East Elmhurst), state Assemblymen Francisco threatened to call the police on the protesters, who Moya (D-JacksonHeights) and Jeffrion Aubry (D- in response broke into chants of “Shame on you,” Corona) as well as City Council members Daniel the exchange cooled down after Jeff Owen, senior Dromm (D-JacksonHeights) and Julissa Ferreras manager at the Queens Center Mall, met with the (D-East Elmhurst). protesters and agreed to relay the message that the groups wanted to meet with Arthur Coppola, Protesters held up signs and chanted in English chief executive officer of Macerich, the company and Spanish. DaCosta said their demands were which owns the mall. that the workers get paid a minimum of $10 an hour with benefits, that the mall allows the workers Owen later said in an e-mail that the mall pays a to unionize without intimidation and that the mall living wage to its own employees and has taken a provides a community space that can be used for role in facilitating community-focused services and job training, job placement, school programs or events. English classes for immigrants. The protesters said they wanted this because the mall enjoys millions in subsidies in property tax abatements. “We continue to be fully committed that Queens Center remains to function as a vibrant economic engine, helping to power the local economy and “We’re asking for the resources that are going into sustain local businesses,” Owen said. this mall to be shared equally,” DaCosta said.

The protest, held in front of the mall at 90-15 Isabel Enclada, a Corona resident and low- Queens Blvd. before moving into the income worker, said through a translator that administrative office, was the latest part of a long, because the mall gets subsidies it is supposed to ongoing campaign held by civic groups QCUA, bring economic development, but creates mostly Make the Road New York, Living Wage NYC part-time jobs that pay New York state minimum and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store wage. Union to change the conditions for workers at the mall. “We need good jobs, not poverty jobs,” she said. “It’s hard to support our families making The campaign has earned the support of local $7.25 an hour.” legislators, including state Sen. Jose Peralta (D-

Crowley rallies with seniors to save Medicare

By Ying Chan July 6, 2011

At a rally held last Thursday in Jackson Heights, system that would Make the Road New York and Queens seniors “send seniors to an residing in the 7th Congressional District joined open free market.” forces with Congressman Joseph Crowley to oppose Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan’s proposed plan He asserted that to cut federal spending on Medicare. with these federal budget cuts, over At Make the Road’s Jackson Heights headquarters, 80,000 seniors and Crowley revealed his extensive 15-page report, disabled individuals “Breaking the Promise,” to counter Ryan’s cuts. residing in his district alone would “I know my constituents and my country cannot no longer be afford the Republican plan,” said Crowley, a entitled to free Democrat who has represented areas in Queens preventative care. and the Bronx for over a decade. And those between Among others joining Crowley was Ana Maria the ages of 44 and Archila, one of three co-executive directors at 54, like Crowley himself, who turned 49 in March, Make the Road New York, a not-for-profit would need to have collectively saved a total of organization that has long been an advocate for $25.7 billion more prior to retirement in order to pay greater health care accessibility. for the increased cost of health coverage, according to his report. Archila, who regularly shifted from English to Spanish for concerned Spanish-speaking attendees, “Medicare is very important for me because it stated that it was time “to re-ignite the fight to guarantees that I’ll be able to see my doctor and stay protect the basic dignities of working families.” healthy,” said one senior, a member of Make the Road New York who lives on a fixed income. Surrounding the advocates on both sides, senior citizens held up signs that read: “Say ‘No’ to For 28-year-old Leni Juca, Ryan’s proposal is a Medicare Cuts.” matter of extreme urgency that he believes needs to be addressed now before it is too late. In his highly controversial proposal, the “Path to Prosperity,” which was released in April of this year, “By the time I retire, the fight will be gone and it Ryan, who promised that the changes would reduce will be lost,” said Juca, who owns Oxium Copy & deficits and create new private-sector jobs to Print, a small printing shop in Jackson Heights. A stimulate the economy, stated that wealthier long-time resident of the community, Juca urged beneficiaries would receive lower subsidies while listeners to take a firm stand against the Republican seniors would receive “additional assistance to cover proposal. out-of-pocket costs.” Ryan denied that his plan, which would be “As a small business owner, it is hard to believe implemented in 2022 if passed, would create a that we will balance our budgets on the backs of voucher program. our seniors,” he added.

But those at the rally did not agree. For now, Crowley and Make the Road remain uncompromising. “The ‘Path to Prosperity’ will lead us to ruin,” said Crowley, who suggested that the changes put on the “As soon as we control the Senate, we won’t let table by Ryan would effectively create a voucher them have their way,” Crowley said.

Medicare and Medicaid Are Not Safe From the Debt Deal Cuts by Amara Nwosu August 5, 2011

Sagrario [Make the Road New York member], the only person in her family with health insurance, was diagnosed with cancer after she first arrived in New York from Honduras. She has been able to cover her care with a combination of Medicare, the medical assistance program for seniors, and Medicaid, which covers the costs that Medicare does not. As a person of color, this coverage plan isn’t unusual: Approximately 46 percent of people on both Medicare and Medicaid are people of color.

It should be good news, then, that after much anxiety Medicaid and Medicare both emerged from the recent debt deal unscathed. It’s especially good news for those who have been working hard to reduce racial health disparities, because people of color “live sicker and die younger,” as the public health axiom goes.

But not so fast. While these crucial health care programs have not yet met the budget scalpel, it’s unlikely the debt deal’s goals can be achieved without meaningful cuts to them.

Earlier this week, a report featuring personal stories, including Sagrario’s, of people of color on Medicaid, was released by the Health Rights Organizing Project of the Alliance for a Just Society, a coalition of 14 organizations from different states fighting for racial and economic justice in health care. The report, titled “Medicaid Makes a Difference: Protecting Medicaid, Advancing Racial Justice,” illustrates how Medicaid beneficiaries—currently 50 million people, about half of whom are people of color—may still lose out in the second round of budget cutting.

The first round of budget cuts was just a preview of what lies ahead. Congress plans to implement more severe cost-cutting measures through a “super committee” established by the debt bill signed into law on Tuesday. Legislators must cut at least $1.2 trillion in the next decade and health care costs, which are still growing faster than the economy as a whole, will inevitably be a key component of making that goal.

So although Medicare was spared upfront, if the super committee can’t come to agreement on how to make the mandatory cuts, Medicare will be included in an across the board cut of 2 percent, or approximately $11 billion per year from the provider-side of the program. And cuts to Medicare will indirectly impact Medicaid beneficiaries who rely on safety-net institutions, public hospitals and community health clinics, for their primary source of health care. Federal funding for Medicare reimburses providers for the cost of treating patients, but also helps offset the cost of Medicaid patients and uninsured patients that are disproportionately treated in public and teaching hospitals.

Medicaid, funded through a combination of federal and state money, is not likely to be cut directly but may be affected through a restructuring of the program that could result in a weakening of each state’s ability to fund it. It is here that we may see a return, in the worst case scenario, of Paul Ryan-style plans that call for Medicaid funding to be structured as block grants, which will limit the federal contribution to the growing program and thus force states to shift costs onto patients.

Eun Ha Yi, who suffered from a spinal injury that happened at her job and who relies on the state version of Medicaid in California, states that “[having health insurance is] a question of life and death, and life is precious for everyone, whether we are rich or poor.” A study done by the National Bureau of Economic Research confirmed that having health insurance is indeed also important for one’s long-term financial stability.

The “super committee” established to reign in cost should take this into consideration. And as the Health Rights Organizing Project suggests, reduce cost by creating new revenue streams, by taxing the wealthy and big corporations, and by cutting defense spending and not by scapegoating Medicaid beneficiaries during times of great financial confusion.

Veteran agitators flock to Occupy Wall Street

By Daniel Massey September 29, 2011

The city's most experienced agitators—the labor and The protestors have transformed the park into a village of community groups that typically organize local marches, sorts, complete with a community kitchen, a library, a rallies and sit-ins—have been largely missing from the concert stage, an arts and crafts center and a media hub. Occupy Wall Street protest that is in its 13th day at “It's become too big to ignore,” said one political Zuccotti Park in lower Manhattan. consultant.

But that's about to change. Some of the biggest players in organized labor are actively involved in planning for Wednesday's A loose coalition of labor and community groups said demonstration, either directly or through coalitions that Thursday that they would join the protest next week. They they are a part of. The United Federation of Teachers, are organizing a solidarity march scheduled for 32BJ SEIU, 1199 SEIU, Workers United and Transport Wednesday that is expected to start at City Hall and finish Workers Union Local 100 are all expected to participate. a few blocks south at Zuccotti Park. The Working Families Party is helping to organize the protest and MoveOn.org is expected to mobilize its extensive online regional networks to drum up support for “It's a responsibility for the progressive organizations in the effort. town to show their support and connect Occupy Wall Street to some of the struggles that are real in the city today,” said Jon Kest, executive director of New York “We're getting involved because the crisis was caused by Communities for Change, which is helping to organize the the excesses of Wall Street and the consequences have march. “They're speaking about issues we're trying to fallen hardest on workers,” a spokesman for TWU Local speak about.” 100 said.

Despite the common cause, the city's established left did Community groups like Make the Road New York, not initially embrace the protest, which began Sept. 17 the Coalition for the Homeless, the Alliance for Quality and has been made up mostly of young people angry Education and Community Voices Heard are also about the widening income chasm in the country, the organizing for Wednesday's action, and the growing influence of money on politics and police labor/community coalitions United New York and Strong brutality, among other issues. Economy For All are pitching in as well.

But as the action nears the start of its third week, unions Signs and chants will likely call for an extension of the so- and community groups are eager to jump on board. They called millionaires' tax and a roll-back of state budget are motivated perhaps by a sense of solidarity and a cuts. They will also likely show support for New York desire to tap into its growing success, but undoubtedly by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's position that a something else too—embarrassment that a group of proposed settlement between banks and attorneys young people using Twitter and Facebook have been general over troubled mortgage pools is too lenient. able to draw attention to progressive causes in a way they haven't been able to in years. Organizers of the march said they aren't looking to take control of the Occupy Wall Street protest, which has The protestors have transformed the park into a village of captured headlines since it began nearly two weeks ago, sorts, complete with a community kitchen, a library, a but add to it. concert stage, an arts and crafts center and a media hub. All of that has enabled them not just to sustain the action “We're not trying to grab the steering wheel or to control but to build momentum. And as celebrities like Michael it,” said Michael Kink, executive director of the Strong Moore, Susan Sarandon, Russell Simmons and Cornel Economy For All coalition. “We're looking to find West have joined in, the city's traditional activists have common cause and support the effort. It's the right fight at been forced to jump into the fray. the right time and we want to be part of it.”

Recession Widens Wealth Gap Between Races The gap in wealth between races is at an all time high.

July 27, 2011

Not many people would be surprised to know that there is a wealth divide in the U.S. between whites and minorities. It is currently the widest it has been in at least 25 years. An example of this can be seen in [Make the Road New York Small Business United member] Edgar Andrade's story. He opened a hardware store nearly three years ago in Brooklyn, NY. He planned on getting it up and running, then handing it over to his parents for their financial security when they retired. The recession changed everything. His small business is struggling. He had to lay off workers and now taken in relatives who are out of work themselves.

For minorities like Edgar, the recession has taken a particularly heavy toll. They have fallen even further behind in the wealth gap behind whites. The Pew Research Center found that the median wealth of Hispanics fell by a staggering 66%, for blacks the drop was 53%, compared to a 16% drop among white households. Senior Researcher Rakesh Kochhar says the study was done between 2005 and 2009. The study finds the main reason for the huge drop in wealth among Hispanics is due to the housing crash and the loss of home equity. Blacks were also hard hit by the housing downturn, says Kochhar. But he says they were also hurt by larger increases in unemployment.

Now the median wealth for a typical black household is just under $6,000. It's slightly higher for Hispanics. That is compared to the typical white household where the median wealth is estimated to be $113,000. It is the widest wealth divide between whites and minorities since 1984, when this kind of data started to be collected.

Rising Stars 40 Under 40: Jesus Gonzalez Community Organizer, Make the Road New York Age: 26

By Chris Bragg September 19, 2011

Jesus Gonzalez wasn’t able to pull off a Democratic line. And Gonzalez could well miracle in the Brooklyn Assembly special again be a candidate in the future. election to replace Darryl Towns, but he did end up making quite a name for himself. Gonzalez may have come in second place, but his run was not in vain. The first-time candidate pulled out 32 percent of the vote on the Working Families Party line “I think this has motivated the incumbent in the three-way race ultimately won by Rafael candidates to work a bit more too,” Gonzalez Espinal—and turned what could have been a said. sleepy Assembly race into a brawl. How did your past jobs get you to where “I went door- you are now? to-door in “As a young person I began organizing this against injustice in the community and felt we Assembly need not to play the victim but to organize district, and young people and educate our peers on the people said issues.” it was the first time What will your business card say in five they had years? ever seen a “In five years, I will still continue to work for a candidate or just community. This is a spiritual elected commitment.” official there,” If you weren’t in politics, what would you Gonzalez be doing? said. “I don’t know if there’s anything else I’d want to be doing, but beyond this, maybe something in the arts—creating films that A native of Bushwick, Gonzalez got his start apply to social conditions.” with Make the Road New York at the tender age of 12 and has continued working What would be the title of your on issues like promoting better relations with autobiography? the police and immigrant rights. Gonzalez’s “If There’s No Struggle, There’s No Progress candidacy also energized Brooklyn reformers (a quote by Frederick Douglass) or Let’s Be and the labor movement, and that could pay Realistic, Let’s Do the Impossible” (Che dividends in the 2013 elections when their Guevara). candidates have the luxury of running on the

Census 2010 New York: A State for all Hispanics

By Catalina Jaramillo August 25, 2011

Rice with pigeon peas? Yes. Tacos? Yes. Arepas? Also. Empanadas? Of course. Ceviche? For sure. All of these are available in New York, which according to the experts, is the state with the most diverse Hispanic population in the country.

According to 2010 Census data, in the last decade, New York’s Latino population increased 19%, from 2.9 to 3.4 million, growing more than any other group in the state. Latinos now make up 17.6% of the state’s overall population.

However, unlike states like California and Texas, where Mexicans account for more than 50% of the state’s Hispanic residents, in New York no Latino group is as dominant. Puerto Ricans continue to be the majority with 31%, followed by Dominicans (19.7%), Mexicans (13.4%), Ecuadoreans (6.7%), Salvadorans (4.5%) and Colombians (4.2%). Nevertheless, the state is also home to significant numbers of Hondurans, Cubans, Guatemalans, Peruvians and Panamanians-and fewer Spaniards, Argentines, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, Chileans, Bolivians, Costa Ricans, Uruguayans and Paraguayans.

These percentages are reflected in New York City, where Hispanics make up 29% of the overall population. “In New York, you can see the diversity. You go to Queens and realize you’re in Colombian territory. You feel the Mexican, Ecuadorean, Costa Rican presence in the city. Diversity is visible, because these groups have been able to win over physical spaces, have festivals, restaurants, schools,” said Ramona Hernández, director of the Dominican Studies Institute at the City College of New York.

“I know of no other city that has as many Latino groups as New York. If you’re talking about Miami, there’s a Cuban majority; in Texas, it’s Mexicans… But here, it’s different,” she said.

Angelo Falcón, director of the National Institute for Latino Policy, pointed out that New York’s Hispanic population is also different from other states because the presence of people from the Caribbean brings to the forefront the issue of race within the same ethnicity.

“The subject of Afro-Latinos is very unique to New York,” said Falcón.

Hernández thinks that because of the demographic weight of Dominicans and Puerto Ricans in the city, the scale tips more toward the black race.

“If you’re thinking of skin color and align all the Latinos, then it becomes obvious,” said Hernández.

Ana María Archila, co-executive director of Make the Road New York, a Hispanic immigrant organization, agrees about the diversity of Hispanics, but highlights another special characteristic that distinguishes Latinos in the city.

“In New York, the Latino community has been able to build the political power to demand, for example, that Mayor Michael Bloomberg have a platform targeted specifically at the needs of immigrants. I think this level of power and sophistication really doesn’t exist in other cities around the country.”

In New York City, according to the Census, Hispanics are the future. In public schools, 40% of the students are Hispanic. For the population under 18 broken down by demographic group, Hispanics are a majority with 26.8%, followed by African-Americans with 23.7%.

For Lucía Gómez-Jiménez, director of La Fuente, an umbrella community organization for civic participation projects in New York and Long Island, what this means is that there should be a focus on education, and that the Hispanic community needs to mature in terms of voting in order to have more representation.

According to the New York State Data Center, in the last 10 years, the percentage of Hispanics in the state increased in 60 of the 62 counties. The exceptions were New York County (where it decreased from 27% to 25%) and Franklin County (from 4% to 3%).

The 10 counties with the highest proportions of Hispanics are the Bronx (54%), Queens (28%), New York (Manhattan, 25%), Westchester (22%), Kings (Brooklyn, 20%), Orange (18%), Richmond (Staten Island, 17%), Suffolk (16%), Rockland (16%) and Nassau (15%).

The cities where the number of Hispanics as a percentage of the total population has increased more than 10% are, in order of growth: Peekskill in Westchester, Middletown in Orange, East Hampton in Suffolk, Newburgh in Orange, Southampton in Suffolk, Mount Kisco in Westchester, Ossining in Westchester and Amsterdam in Montgomery.

“We must reach the point where we are no longer one of many. We must have a more concentrated voice in certain areas, people who know how to use the numbers, know how to mobilize,” said Gómez-Jiménez, who was also an advisor to former Governor David Paterson. “There comes a point where we must say, ‘Wait, there’s a lot of diversity, many different races and nationalities, but the Hispanic community is larger.’ And we must understand what being the majority is good for.”

Bloomberg cambia de opinión sobre ICE

By Zaira Cortes October 1, 2011

Tras meses de oposición, la administración Bloomberg ha decidido respaldar una propuesta legislativa que limitaría la actual colaboración que mantienen la cárcel municipal de Rikers Island y el Servicio de Inmigración y Aduanas (ICE, por sus siglas en inglés), informaron ayer a El Diario fuentes del Concejo Municipal.

Se espera que la presidenta del Concejo Municipal, Christine Quinn, y la concejal Melissa Mark-Viverito, autoras del proyecto de ley, hagan el anuncio mañana durante un rally de inmigrantes y líderes comunitarios en el Alto Manhattan.

La actividad – programada en vísperas de la primera audiencia el lunes para discutir la propuesta– buscaba sacar la artillería pesada para presionar al Alcalde Bloomberg a que cambiara de parecer sobre lo que consideran es una costosa y excesiva relación entre la ciudad y ICE, y que difiere con el resto del tono anti-deportaciones del Alcalde.

Las concejales habían reclutado al congresista por el estado de Illinois, Luis Gutiérrez, para participar en el evento. Gutiérrez está de paso por la ciudad este fin de semana como parte de una publicitada gira nacional para denunciar el aumento en las deportaciones y exigir el cese de las mismas.

Pero el alegado cambio de posición del Alcalde abre camino al proyecto de ley, el cual cuenta con los votos necesarios para la aprobación en el pleno del Concejo. Una segunda audiencia y la votación en pleno se esperan dentro de los dos próximos meses.

"Necesitamos detener estas deportaciones innecesarias y excesivas contra personas que no han cometido delitos previos", indicó la presidente del Concejo Quinn en un comunicado. "Estamos satistechos de que ellos [la administración de Bloomberg] hayan acordado apoyar nuestra legislación que reducirá estas deportaciones injustas", agregó.

"Esto [la ley] sentaría un ejemplo para otras municipalidades y reforzará el mensaje de que nuestras leyes no pueden seguir separando familias", dijo Mark-Viverito vía teléfónica.

El evento del domingo será en la iglesia Ascensión, ubicada en 221 West de la calle 107, en Manhattan. A las 9 a.m. se hará una misa. Más tarde, a las 11 a.m., se iniciará el rally.

La propuesta de ley de Quinn y Mark-Viverito busca limitar la cooperación entre ICE y la cárcel municipal, la cual, alegan, ha conllevado a la deportación indiscriminada de jóvenes residentes legales con menor o ningún antecedente criminal.

El Concejo Municipal estima que en 2009, el 50% de los presos de la ciudad que fueron reportados a ICE, no contaban con condenas previas. Un 20.9% habían cometido un delito menor como su mayor crimen.

De los 12.710 presos extranjeros que el Departamento de Correcciones (DOC) identificó como extranjeros en 2009, ICE clasificó a 3.506 para ser deportados. En un artículo de opinión publicado ayer en este periódico, Christine Quinn explico en que el Programa de Delincuentes Extranjeros (CAP, sus siglas en inglés) de ICE, en el que participa DOC, no ha logrado su propósito de identificar y deportar criminales peligrosos.

La funcionaria apuntó que el Proyecto de Ley de Derechos de los Inmigrantes podría ser un nuevo estándar para otras ciudades que buscan reducir deportaciones innecesarias.

Javier Valdés, codirector de Se Hace Camino Nueva York, subrayó la importancia de respaldar una ley que protege a los inmigrantes y sus familias.

"La municipalidad más grande del país está tomando los pasos necesarios para cambiar el sistema migratorio del país. Este proyecto de ley puede ser modelo nacional y así acabar con la separación de familias", dijo Valdés.

El Concejo Municipal estima que en 2009, el 50% de los presos de la ciudad que fueron reportados a ICE, no contaban con condenas previas.

Aprenden a vivir en suburbios En la pasada década, los latinos se han mudado a esas zonas

Catalina Jaramillo 25 de agosto 2011

Si bien hasta el alcalde Michael Bloomberg alegó que las cifras del Censo en la ciudad de Nueva York son menores al crecimiento real, los números dicen que el número de hispanos en la ciudad aumentó en un 8.1%.

Y aunque la ciudad aún atrae a miles de inmigrantes latinos, en 2010 el 28.6% de la población total es hispana, hay ciudades en el estado que tienen un mayor porcentaje de hispanos en relación al total de la población y un aumento mayor en el número de latinos que viven en ellas.

Según Angelo Falcón, director del Instituto Nacional de Política Hispana, históricamente los hispanos venían a la ciudad de Nueva York y una vez que prosperaban se movían a los suburbios.

"Eso está cambiando", dijo Falcón. "Se ve en Long Island, por ejemplo, donde [las personas] vienen directamente del país de ellos a esas áreas, y no tienen que pasar por Nueva York".

Según el New York State Data Center el número de hispanos en Long Island se ha más que duplicado desde 1990, creciendo al menos 20 veces más rápido que la población total. El porcentaje de hispanos en el total de la población de Long Island aumentó del 10% en 2000 a 16% en el 2010.

Por esta razón, por ejemplo, la organización comunitaria La Fuente abrió el proyecto Long Island Civic Participation Project en 2007, y la organización Se Hace Camino Nueva York decidió abrir una sede en Brentwood, Long Island, donde el 68.5% de la población es hispano.

"Son trabajadores de factorías, restaurantes, clase obrera. Son pocos los que emigran desde Nueva York [ciudad]. La mayoría viene directo a Long Island porque tienen algún familiar", dijo Carlos Ramos, activista comunitario a cargo de Se Hace Camino en Long Island.

Luis Montes, salvadoreño jefe de personal del asambleísta puertorriqueño Phil Ramos, explicó que la mayoría de los hispanos en Long Island eran puertorriqueños que vinieron de "la ciudad" a "la isla" a trabajar en hospitales psiquiátricos en 1940.

Pero en los 80, explicó, hubo una explosión de inmigrantes salvadoreños, que ahora conforman el grupo étnico más grande de la isla. En Brentwood, el 38% de los hispanos son salvadoreños, por lo que incluso hay un consulado de El Salvador.

"Pasan directamente desde una zona rural y pobre del tercer mundo a una zona suburbana del primer mundo", dijo Montes respecto de la mayoría de los inmigrantes de El Salvador.

Esto, según Falcón, crea tensiones antiinmigrantes. "Muchos habitantes de aquí no entendían por qué los inmigrantes tienen gallos y gallinas en el jardín", ejemplificó Montes. "O que llamen a la policía en vez de a los bomberos o a la ambulancia, porque en sus pueblos la policía es lo único que hay".

Las diferencias en estilos de vida han creado una distancia entre los nuevos inmigrantes y los residentes nativos de Long Island la cual, en ocasiones, se ha transformado en hostilidad contra los recién llegados.

De hecho, en años recientes, Long Island ha sido protagonista de varios episodios de violencia racial en contra de hispanos, entre ellos el asesinato de Marcelo Lucero en 2008.

Montes dijo que el gerente ejecutivo de Suffolk Steve Levy ha usado esos sentimientos antiinmigrantes con fines políticos.

Sin embargo, Montes dice que hoy hay 11 funcionarios públicos hispanos y que muchos ya entienden que los latinos son vitales para que la base tributaria de Long Island no decaiga, por lo que la discriminación ha ido bajando.

"La ciudad de Nueva York sigue siendo el lugar seguro para los inmigrantes, pero ahora hay competencia en otras aéreas. En Suffolk y Nassau los obreros tienen más trabajos, todavía hay personas que recogen obreros en la plaza", dijo Lucía Gómez-Jiménez, directora de la organización La Fuente.

Tanto el activista Ramos como Montes explican que los inmigrantes vienen directo a Long Island porque hay más trabajos que en la ciudad. Además, dijo Montes, son trabajos de campo, que son los que ellos saben hacer.

Demanda millonaria por abusos en peluquería Hispanos buscan compensación de $1.1 millones por robo de salarios

Zaira Cortés 18 de agosto 2011

Ocho trabajadores latinos están demandando al establecimiento Tatyana’s Barber Shop en Queens por $1.1 millones en compensación por robo de salario y horas extra.

Los empleados, todos peruanos y ecuatorianos y cinco de ellos mujeres, fueron despedidos colectivamente el 9 de agosto, tras exigir el pago de gastos médicos de dos compañeras que sufrieron accidentes dentro de la peluquería, ubicada en 95-50 de Roosevelt Avenue. Reina Zamora Myrtha Cuentas, con ocho años de trabajar en el lugar, explicó que el 8 de julio se cayó debido a que el piso estaba mojado. Desde entonces, agregó, acude frecuentemente al hospital debido a una fractura en la pierna que le impide caminar correctamente.

Un caso similar es el de la ecuatoriana Reina Zamora [miembro de Se Hace Camino Nueva York], quien laboró en el sitio por siete años. La joven de 27 años y madre soltera, dijo que el 30 de julio se tropezó con un tapete en malas condiciones que le ocasionó varias heridas y hematomas internos.

Las mujeres dijeron que la rusa Tatyana Muratova, propietaria del lugar, se negó a pagar las cuentas médicas y amenazó con llamar a autoridades migratorias de seguir insistiendo.

Zamora afirmó que su accidente laboral fue el límite de su tolerancia, pues durante años soportó maltrato y humillaciones debido a su estatus legal.

"Tatyana y su hermano Gary Muratova nos decían que los indocumentados somos basura. Siempre fueron autoritarios. Nos hacían trabajar 12 horas diarias los seis días por un sueldo de $300 dólares. Nunca nos pagaron horas extras", dijo.

Glicerio Melgarejo, peruano de 46 años, comentó que durante los 13 años que laboró en la peluquería también soportó abuso laboral.

"La propietaria tiene cámaras en la peluquería que controla desde su casa. Siempre estaba acosándonos. No nos dejaba comer tranquilos. El lugar es insalubre. Nos trató como animales".

Melgarejo dijo que al ser despedidos, Muratova intentó hacerlos firmar un contrato en el cual se comprometían a no trabajar por tres años en un establecimiento similar y ubicado dentro de las 15 millas a la redonda de su propiedad.

"El contrato tenia fecha de 2007, pero en realidad lo elaboró en la semana que nos despidió", afirmó.

Los ocho trabajadores solicitaron el respaldo de Se Hace Camino Nueva York para iniciar un proceso legal en contra de Tatyana Muratova. Un nutrido grupo de la organización se manifestó ayer frente a la peluquería para reclamar los derechos laborales de los demandantes.

Durante la protesta, el hermano de la propietaria, Gary Muratova, agredió verbalmente a los manifestantes. El hombre arrebató de las manos de algunos presentes las pancartas con consignas como "Se quedaron con nuestros sueldos, pero no con nuestra profesión y creatividad".

Hilary Klein, líder organizadora de Se Hace Camino, dijo "La actitud agresiva del señor Muratova es una muestra de lo que estos empleados tuvieron que soportar por años".

Klein dijo que los abogados de la organización están trabajando en el caso, aunque prefirió no dar detalles del proceso legal.

Tatyana Muratova se limitó a negar las acusaciones de sus ex empleados. "No sé qué es lo que quieren", dijo. Se rehusó a realizar más comentarios.

Gary Muratova sólo comentó que nunca hubo abuso laboral y que los empleados recibieron el pago justo durante sus años de trabajo.

El hombre solicitó la presencia de la policía. Unos diez oficiales arribaron al lugar, pese a que durante la manifestación no hubo mayores incidentes.

Tatyana Muratova es propietaria de un segundo establecimiento en 95-28 de Roosevelt Avenue. Un empleado del lugar, que prefirió no identificarse, comentó "El problema es en la otra peluquería. Aquí todo está bien. No tenemos nada de qué quejarnos".

En ambos establecimientos se estima que laboran unos 15 empleados, la mayoría hispanos.

NY: Presentan propuesta ley para frenar deportaciones

8/17/2011

Concejales de la ciudad de Nueva York presentaron Mark-Viverito, Quinn y el senador del estado de una propuesta de ley para frenar la deportación de Nueva York Gustavo Rivera. personas detenidas que no tienen ningún historial criminal y que pone límites al intercambio de Los firmantes expresaron su preocupación por el información entre el Servicio de Control de anuncio hecho por el Departamento de Seguridad Inmigración y Aduanas (ICE, por sus siglas en inglés) Nacional (DHS, por sus siglas en inglés) por el cual y el departamento correccional de la ciudad. ICE no require llegar a acuerdo con los estados o las autoridades locales para poder aplicar el polémico "Los que está pasando ahora es que los agentes de programa. inmigración que están basados en la prisión de Rikers -el centro penitenciario de Nueva York- tienen acceso Comunidades Seguras fue creado en 2008 y permite a toda la información de las personas que están identificar a los extranjeros que residen en Estados detenidas", explicó el miércoles en rueda de prensa la Unidos sin autorización a través del intercambio de concejal Melissa Mark-Viverito, una de las impulsoras información entre policía y autoridades migratorias. del proyecto de ley junto con la portavoz del Ayuntamiento, Christine Quinn. "En la carta pedimos que se acabe este programa porque las comunidades se sienten menos seguras, "Con este proyecto de ley estamos tratando de limitar ya que hay gente indocumentada que no quiere poner esa cooperación entre el servicio de inmigración y el denuncias de violencia doméstica o de crímenes departamento correccional porque la mayoría de estas porque tiene miedo a que se le mire su estatus personas detenidas no tienen un historial criminal ni migratorio", dijo Rivera. están acusadas de crímenes", afirmó Mark-Viverito. Los firmantes de la carta denuncian que el programa "No vamos a colaborar con un sistema migratorio que Comunidades Seguras "contribuyó" a la deportación está roto y está destruyendo familias", agregó. de "más de un millón de personas" durante la administración del presidente Barack Obama. Según los impulsores del proyecto de ley [incluyendo Se Hace Camino Nueva York], entre 3.000 y Hasta ahora, los estados de Nueva York, Illinois y 4.000 neoyorquinos son deportados como resultado Massachusetts se habían opuesto a implementar el de la colaboración voluntaria entre el departamento programa argumentando que minaba la seguridad de correccional y el servicio de inmigración. las comunidades.

"Ahora tenemos los votos necesarios para aprobar Según datos del ICE, entre octubre de 2008 y el 31 de esta ley. En el caso que el alcalde (Michael mayo de 2011, se deportaron a través de las Bloomberg) fuese a vetar la propuesta, tenemos los Comunidades Seguras a 115.396 personas, 82.465 suficientes votos para tumbar el veto", comentó Mark- de ellas por cometer un acto criminal (desde asesinato Viverito, que podrían pasar varios meses hasta que la a delitos menores), lo que supone el 72% del total. ley pueda ser una realidad. El 28% restante fue deportada por violaciones de tipo La misiva contra el programa Comunidades Seguras migratorio como el haber entrado en el país luego de está firmada por 34 representantes del estado de haber sido deportado o por cometer infracciones con Nueva York y concejales de la ciudad, entre ellos el visado, según el ICE.

Otro paso para sacar a ICE de Rikers Island

Someterán una propuesta en el Concejo Municipal que tiene el apoyo de activistas

Por Zaira Cortés 5 de agosto 2011

Nueva York — El Concejo Municipal someterá el 17 de agosto una propuesta de ley que podría anular la presencia de autoridades migratorias en la prisión de Rikers Island.

Las grandes coaliciones pro-inmigrantes de la ciudad respaldan la iniciativa, la cual calificaron como urgente después de tres años de trabajo.

Javier Valdés, codirector de Se Hace Camino Nueva York, explicó que las comunidades latina y afrocaribeña son mayormente afectadas por deportaciones innecesarias. El activista comentó que inmigrantes indocumentados son interrogados por oficiales del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Adunas ICE, al ingresar a Rikers Island.

"Latinos con cargos menores, como usar el servicio del tren sin pagar por él, están siendo deportados injustamente", afirmó Valdés.

Según cifras del Concejo Municipal, el 20.9% de presos entregados al ICE en 2009, habían cometido un delito menor como su mayor crimen.

Trascendió que oficiales de Rikers Island tienen la autoridad de retener por 48 horas a inmigrantes indocumentados después de su fecha de liberación, para entregarlos a ICE.

El concejal Ydanis Rodríguez, comentó que el Concejo tiene expectativas positivas respecto a la aprobación de la ley.

"Confiamos en que el alcalde Bloomberg accederá a eliminar la oficina de ICE en Rikers Island, así como aceptó su presencia en esta prisión".

Rodríguez aseguró que las grandes coaliciones pro-inmigrantes, entre ellas Se Hace Camino Nueva York y New York Immigration Coalition NYC, están impulsando la propuesta de ley, por lo que existe una gran posibilidad de "brincar un veto" si fuera necesario.

En el Concejo, los ediles Melissa Mark-Viverito y Daniel Dromm patrocinaron la medida que recibió el respaldo de la presidenta del cuerpo legislativo Christine Quinn.

Andrés García, de New Immigrant Community Empowerment NICE, comentó "Autoridades migratorias deben limitarse a procesos de inmigración. Los procesos legales son un asunto independiente".

NICE refrendó su apoyo al Concejo Municipal y destacó que la eliminación de autoridades migratorias de la prisión de Rikers Island es un paso tan importante como el que se dio en junio, cuando el estado de Nueva York dejó de participar en el programa Comunidades Seguras.

Temor a que recorten Medicaid Algunos residentes hablan sobre su situación económica y lo afectados que serían sin seguro médico

Por Cristina Loboguerrero 3 de agosto, 2011

A Sagrario Méndez [miembra de Se Hace Este es sólo el relato de algunas personas Camino NY], de 62 años, le fue detectado un residentes en Nueva York que reciben cáncer en los ovarios, de lo que se operó gracias Medicaid y Medicare y que reaccionaron con a recibir Medicaid y Medicare, por cuanto calificó temor ante la posibilidad de que el gobierno de "preocupante" la posibilidad que corten estos federal pueda suspender sus beneficios en el beneficios para el cuidado de salud. futuro.

Méndez, oriunda Por este temor que se extiende a nivel de Honduras y nacional y como parte de demostrar el con 40 años impacto negativo que tendrían los recortes en residiendo en la cobertura médica, la Alianza para Una Sola Nueva York, Sociedad, con base en el estado de asegura que "si Washington, en conjunto con 14 no hubiera sido organizaciones de base —que conforman el porque tengo proyecto Organizando los Derechos a la Medicaid y Salud— dieron a conocer ayer un informe Medicare, no bajo el nombre de "Medicaid: Hace la hubiera podido ir al doctor. Mi enfermedad Diferencia", en el que se comparten historias no hubiera sido detectada a tiempo y mucho de pacientes, proveedores del cuidado de la menos operarme tan rápido como lo indicó salud y líderes comunitarios, que de primera el especialista". mano han experimentado los beneficios del Medicaid dentro de las comunidades de color. Lourdes Hernández también recibe Medicaid para sus dos hijos —de 13 y 7 años— lo que le A nivel nacional, se calcula que más de 50 permite llevarlos al doctor cada vez que se millones de personas reciben Medicaid. enferman, pero la posibilidad de que se lo Jennifer Ng’andu, sub directora del Proyecto suspendan, la cataloga como "sencillamente Política para la Salud del Consejo Nacional de aterradora". la Raza, dijo que "estas medidas presupuestarias drásticas que debilitan Residente en El Bronx, Hernández, oriunda de nuestro sistema del cuidado de la salud Republica Dominicana, describe su situación privará de derechos a millones de americanos económica actual como "critica". Se gana la vida que han estado desconectados por muchísimo cuidando un niño y sin querer entrar en detalles tiempo de los sistemas de cuidado de la salud sobre cuánto gana, dice que "escasamente me da debido a un legado de disparidades en él por para comer". cuestiones raciales y étnicas".

Nerida Martínez, de 83 años y residente en el El grupo al unísono exhortó al presidente Alto Manhattan, vive con 700 dólares mensuales, Barack Obama para que le requiera a las que recibe de su retiro, sufre de problemas corporaciones y a los millonarios que aporten renales por lo que tiene que ir al doctor, como su contribución al fisco, para evitar que se mínimo, una vez por mes. "Si me llegan a quitar continúen exponiendo a los recortes al el Medicaid y el Medicare, sería terrible, porque Medicaid y otros programas claves, los cuales con el dinero que recibo no alcanzaría a pagar dañarían a la comunidad. una sola consulta médica", explica.

Activistas de NY piden eliminar el programa Comunidades Seguras

Critican programa de deportaciones del gobierno de Obama

July 16, 2011

NUEVA YORK - Representantes de organizaciones en defensa de los inmigrantes de Nueva York pidieron que se ponga fin al programa federal llamado Comunidades Seguras, por considerar que no es efectivo y provocó una mayor deportación de personas que residen en el país sin autorización.

Los activistas se reunieron el viernes con miembros del Departamento de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE). El encuentro estuvo precedido por una manifestación en la que participaron unas 60 personas que llevaban pancartas donde se podía leer "Las deportaciones destruyen nuestras familias" o "No más deportaciones".

"En la reunión demostraron que no están interesados en tener un diálogo", dijo a The Associated Press Daniel Coates, representante de la organización Make the Road of New York.

En la reunión, convocada por ICE, participaron representantes de unas treinta organizaciones, el director ejecutivo asociado del ICE, Gary Mead, y otros miembros de la agencia federal.

El gobierno ignora

Donald Anthonyson, de Freedom for Family, criticó a ICE por ignorar a las personas afectadas por el programa que permite identificar a las personas que residen sin autorización mediante la verificación de su identidad en diferentes bases de datos. "Es penoso que no quieran hablar con ellos".

"El programa de Comunidades Seguras ha creado inseguridad porque ha infundido miedo por el hecho de tomar las huellas digitales a quien ha cometido alguna falta menor, que luego han sido inmediatamente compartidas con ICE entrando en un proceso de deportación", lamentó por su parte Vincente Mayorga, miembro de Make the Road of New York, original de Ecuador y que lleva 14 años en Nueva York.

"Yo he visto amigos, familias que han sido separadas porque han sido deportados", añadió.

Detalles del plan

Comunidades Seguras es un programa creado en 2008 y que permite identificar a los extranjeros que residen en Estados Unidos sin autorización a través del intercambio de información entre policía y autoridades migratorias, con el objetivo de mejorar la identificación de las personas que cometen crímenes.

La policía toma las huellas dactilares de la persona detenida y se transfieren los datos a Inmigración para identificar su estatus migratorio.

El gobierno del presidente Barack Obama deportó una cifra récord de 392,862 personas en el año fiscal 2010, según datos del Departamento de Ciudadanía e Inmigración. Las organizaciones critican los cambios propuestos el mes de junio por ICE con el objetivo, según la institución, de mejorar el programa.

Las modificaciones

Entre los cambios propuestos se cuentan asegurar que no se deporten a víctimas de violencia doméstica u otros crímenes cuando denuncian los casos y centrar el programa en los "criminales más serios".

"En los cambios propuestos no se dice que los datos no vayan a ser compartidos con Inmigración, no dice que sólo se hará en casos de crímenes flagrantes", apuntó Mayorga.

Lamentó que en muchos casos las personas arrestadas o "no cometieron delito alguno" o bien "fueron menores como infracciones de tráfico".

En un comunicado, el ICE explicó que la reunión sirvió para discutir con la comunidad los cambios propuestos como son los "diseñados para mitigar el posible impacto en la comunidad previniendo la expulsión de víctimas de la violencia doméstica y de otros crímenes".

Números oficiales

Según datos del ICE, entre octubre de 2008 y el 31 de mayo de 2011, se deportaron a través de las Comunidades Seguras a 115.396 personas, 82.465 de ellas por cometer un acto criminal (desde asesinato a delitos menores), lo que supone el 72 por ciento del total.

Las otras personas deportadas, el 28 por ciento, lo fueron, según el ICE, por violaciones de tipo migratorio como el haber entrado en el país luego de haber sido deportado o por cometer infracciones con el visado.

"ICE continuará trabajando con nuestros socios comunitarios para asegurar que nuestro mutuo compromiso en proteger la seguridad pública en el estado de Nueva York sea una realidad", expresó el comunicado.

Los estados de Nueva York, Illinois y Massachusetts no participan en este programa federal. El gobernador de Nueva York, Andrew Cuomo, anunció en junio pasado que dejaría de participar en el programa porque no cumplía los objetivos y suponía "serias consecuencias" para testigos, víctimas de crímenes y la propia policía.

Por su parte, el gobernador de Illinois, Pat Quinn, anunció este año que se retiraba del programa por promover deportaciones de personas que no cometieron crímenes.

Empleados piden salarios justos Trabajadores quieren $10 por hora con beneficios o $11.50 por hora sin beneficios

Gloria Medina 23 de septiembre 2011

"Regresa a la comunidad" fue el mensaje que varios miembros de diferentes organizaciones llevaron ayer a los dueños del Centro Comercial de Queens por medio de las 5,500 tarjetas firmadas por residentes de diferentes vecindarios, para que provea salarios justos a sus empleados, respete el derecho de sindicalizarse y que ofrezca un espacio para la comunidad.

‘Sí se puede, sí se puede", gritaban los manifestantes mientras portaban pancartas con mensajes como "Salarios Justos", "Justicia ahora", "Mejores trabajos para familias más fuertes", durante una conferencia de prensa que se realizó afuera del centro comercial y a la que asistieron varios activistas y líderes comunitarios.

"Sabemos que el centro comercial recibe más de 100 millones de dólares en incentivos, dinero de las personas que pagan sus impuestos", dijo Jeff Eichler, director del proyecto Organizar a Vendedores al Por Mayor del Sindicato de Tiendas por Departamento, Mayoristas y Minoristas (RWDSU, por sus siglas en inglés). "Es muy justo que si ellos reciben tanto dinero de quienes pagan los impuestos, que ofrezcan mejores salarios para sus trabajadores que son gente de la comunidad", agregó.

Tres cosas principales están pidiendo los manifestantes: sueldos justos de $10 por hora con beneficios o $11.50 por hora sin beneficios; que la compañía The Macerich, dueños del centro comercial, sea neutral con las negociaciones del sindicato que está tratando de organizar a los trabajadores; y por último que dedique un espacio dentro del centro comercial para la comunidad donde se puedan realizar programas tales como dar clases de inglés, tener programas de capacitación y jóvenes después de la escuela.

Durante los últimos dos años, se inició la campaña de colección de firmas de la comunidad para que apoye a los empleados. "Más de 50 empleados han llegado con sus quejas a nuestras organizaciones y estamos tratando de ayudarlos, pero no vinieron porque la mayoría están trabajando y no quieren hablar por miedo a retaliación. No quieren perder sus trabajos a pesar del mal salario", indicó Laura Tapia, organizadora del sindicato RWDSU que ha servido de puente de comunicación con los trabajadores.

Miembros de Se Hace Camino en Nueva York hicieron una encuesta en las tiendas del centro comercial la que concluyó que la gran mayoría de empleados tienen el salario mínimo de $7.25. "Hay muchos trabajadores que sólo ganan el mínimo y no es suficiente para vivir aquí en Nueva York", dijo Jose McKellar, director de Congregación Unida de Queens para Acción (QCUA, por sus siglas en inglés).

Después de la conferencia de prensa, el grupo de manifestantes llevó las 5,500 peticiones firmadas a la oficina de Jeffrey S. Owen, gerente del centro comercial, pero un guardia de seguridad los amenazó con llamar a la policía si no se salían, a lo que los asistentes empezaron a gritar repetidamente "Debería darle vergüenza".

Al rato salió Owen a recibir las peticiones y aseguró a los organizadores que las entregaría a los dueños. "Les aseguro que les daré las peticiones y les llevaré el mensaje", dijo el gerente, acerca de la reunión que los organizadores le pidieron tener con los dueños del centro comercial.

Owen no quiso dar declaraciones a la prensa, no respondió las llamadas que se le hicieron, ni los mensajes electrónicos que se le enviaron.

Muchos trabajadores sólo ganan el mínimo y no es suficiente para vivir aquí en Nueva York".

Activistas apoyan nueva propuesta de ley inmigratoria

Por: Luz Plasencia 17 de agosto 2011

Cada año, entre 3.000 a 4.000 residentes de la Ciudad son deportados por la Agencia Federal de Inmigración y Aduanas o ICE, debido a la colaboración entre ésta entidad y el departamento de corrección de la Ciudad.

La concejal Melissa Mark-Viverito, con el apoyo de la presidenta del concejo Christine Quinn y otros concejales, presentaron un proyecto de ley que protegería aquellos detenidos sin antecedentes criminales y que actualmente no hayan sido condenados de un crimen mayor.

"La gran mayoría de las personas no tienen un historial criminal y muchas veces no están acusados de crímenes y todavía ese proceso de deportación se esta empezando con estas personas", dijo la Concejal Melissa Mark-Viverito.

Actualmente, el Departamento de Corrección comparte información de los reclusos con ICE y les permite acceso a individuos para ser entrevistados.

Sin importar el resultado del caso, las personas son detenidas y entregadas a Agentes de ICE.

"Cumplan su sentencia o sean declarados inocentes y estén apunto de salir de la cárcel, ya los Agentes de Inmigración no van a poder agarrarlos ahí y llevarlos a un centro de detención", dijo la Directora Ejecutiva de Se Hace Camino New York.

Y es que estas deportaciones afectan no solo al individuo.

"Afecta mucho porque las familias son separadas y no cuentan con ese trabajo para tener una vida digna", dijo Margarita Pacheco, activista [y miembra de Se Hace Camino NY].

Legisladores aseguran que la Ciudad no esta obligada a darle a ICE acceso a la información de los detenidos.

Inmigrantes que asistieron en apoyo a la propuesta, señalan que el alcalde Michael Bloomberg no ha hecho nada para detener esta practica.

"Como indocumentados es sumamente importante hacer presencia, porque tenemos que luchar, desenmascarar al Alcalde si en verdad esta en nuestro favor o en contra", dijo [miembro de Se Hace Camino NY] José Quizhpilema.

En los próximos meses, el concejo realizara varias audiencias publicas antes de votar y si aprobada por el Concejo, llegará hasta el Alcalde para su aprobación.

Si Bloomberg veta el proyecto de ley, los Concejales aseguran tener suficiente apoyo para anular su decisión.

Consejos para padres que no hablan inglés Cómo lograr involucrarse en la vida educativa de los niños a pesar de las barreras del idioma

Zaira Cortés

17 de agosto 2011

El sistema educativo del país pude ofrecer La activista grandes oportunidades a estudiantes subrayó que latinos; sin embargo, el no hablar inglés existen puede ser un obstáculo en el intento de los escuelas padres para lograr el máximo provecho en con un escuelas públicas. sistema de enseñanza Cynthee Cortés, organizadora de bilingüe o educación de Se Hace Camino Nueva "duo- York, aconsejó a los padres que no language", dominan el idioma, no sentirse intimidados en las cuales el padre podrá sentirse más al interactuar con el personal educativo. cómodo y lograr una mayor intervención en la vida escolar de su hijo. La experta comentó que es primordial solicitar un traductor que le ayude a "Sólo se necesita llamar al 311 para comprender las necesidades del niño en la encontrar un escuela bilingüe o "duo- escuela, además de que es importante language" cercana a su zona de conocer al cuerpo docente a cargo y sus residencia". funciones. Cortés insistió en la importancia de que el "El padre debe saber quién es el niño aprenda los dos idiomas. director, el coordinador de padres y el profesorado que enseña a su hijo. El "Un niño bilingüe tiene más tener este contacto se amplía la posibilidades de éxito laboral en un posibilidad de obtener ayuda en su futuro". idioma", afirmó. La activista comentó que aunque la mayoría Cortés pidió a los padres acercarse a de escuelas públicas en la ciudad tiene organizaciones como Se Hace Camino personal bilingüe, es necesario que el padre Nueva York y la Coalición para la Justicia se interese en aprender el inglés, pues sólo Educativa, CEJ. así podrá obtener mayores oportunidades para su hijo y lograr el máximo provecho "Existen talleres en los cinco condados del sistema educativo. en donde el padre podrá aprender en su idioma cómo funciona el sistema "Existen diversas organizaciones, como educativo, qué instituciones la nuestra, que ofrecen clases de inglés gubernamentales lo representan y como segundo idioma en los cinco cuáles programas de financiamiento condado. Hay muchas opciones para puede conseguir para su hijo". escoger en la ciudad. Sólo basta la decisión y el esfuerzo", dijo.

El nuevo engaño de Obama y la migra

JAVIER H. VALDES es vice-director de Se Hace Camino Nueva York. 11 de agosto 2011

La semana pasada, el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) anunció que está unilateralmente anulando los acuerdos del programa Comunidades Seguras (SCOMM) entre los estados y la agencia de Inmigración y Aduanas (ICE). Esto significa que los estados no podrán cancelar su participación en este programa, como el gobernador Andrew Cuomo hizo en junio de este año.

Los últimos dos años, ICE negoció con los estados para implementar el programa de Comunidades Seguras.

Ahora, de repente y de manera arbitraria, ICE ha anunciado que dará por terminado unilateralmente los acuerdos. No está claro cómo ICE, en última instancia, podrá imponer SCOMM en los estados y las ciudades que no quieren a este programa. Lo que sí está claro es que esta movida de ICE es un insulto tremendo a todos, incluyendo a los gobernadores de Nueva York, Massachusetts e Illinois, que han expresado serias preocupaciones sobre el programa.

Este anuncio se produce mientras DHS está trabajando con un grupo para revisar el programa, y a punto de lanzar una serie de audiencias públicas en todo el país. Este anuncio es un indicio de la mala fe del Departamento, y pone en duda la seriedad de las audiencias públicas de SCOMM y el proceso del grupo de trabajo y sus recomendaciones.

Otra vez, el gobierno federal dice una cosa y hace otra. Desde su inicio, el programa de SCOMM ha tenido muchas cosas que no funcionan y ha creado suficiente preocupación en las autoridades locales y estatales, al punto que varios municipios y estados han decidido salirse del programa.

Los municipios tendrán que cubrir la mayoría de los gastos del programa, incluyendo la erosión de la confianza entre la policía local y nuestras comunidades inmigrantes.

El mes pasado, un juez federal concluyó que había “una amplia evidencia de que ICE y DHS han engañado al público acerca de Comunidades Seguras”. DHS no ha demostrado que tiene la autoridad legal para hacer el programa obligatorio.

La comunidad inmigrante seguirá trabajando para asegurarse que estos engaños del gobierno federal no nos sigan haciendo daño.

Inquilinos protestan contra caseros Residentes de Jackson Heights denuncian violación de rentas reguladas

Gloria Medina 10 de agosto 2011

Con tambores y pancarta en mano, decenas de inquilinos marcharon ayer en Jackson Heights, como una protesta contra el abuso que cometen algunos caseros y piden a la División de Vivienda y Comunidad de Renovación (DHCR, por sus siglas en inglés) que hagan cumplir las leyes de renta.

"DHCR: proteger a los inquilinos, no a los caseros", leían las pancartas que portaban los inquilinos mientras gritaban "la renta sube, sube, los inquilinos sufren, sufren" y se dirigían al edificio 37-60 de la calle 88 en Jackson Heights, donde viven algunos de los inquilinos que dicen ser víctimas de abuso del casero por sobrecargo de renta.

Frente al inmueble, Andrew Friedman, director de Make The Road Nueva York anunció el resultado de un estudio que indica que la agencia estatal de viviendas no está cumpliendo con su misión de enforzar las leyes de renta.

"Lo que encontramos es muy preocupante… como resultado, cientos de mmiles de inquilinos están siendo robados cada mes. Y miles de miles de apartamentos están siendo sacados de las reglas de regulación de renta cada año, poniendo en peligro la cantidad de apartamentos de bajo costo en la ciudad de Nueva York", indicó Friedman, después de una investigación a 200 apartamentos seleccionados al azar en toda la ciudad de Nueva York.

Uno de los apartamentos en la investigación fue donde vive Luis Peláez, en el 37-60 de la calle 88 en Jackson Heights, quien fue llevado a corte por no pagar la renta.

"Tuve un accidente en mi trabajo hace ocho meses y todavía estoy en tratamiento. Por los problemas económicos no pude pagar la renta a tiempo y me llevaron a corte", dijo el ecuatoriano que vive en el inmueble hace nueve años. "Durante el proceso, el abogado descubrió que me estaban sobre cobrando $200 en la renta al mes desde 2006, pero como ya pasaron cuatro años el valor de la renta se vuelve legal, por eso perdí el caso y lo más probable es que me saquen del apartamento", agregó.

En la manifestación, también estuvo presente María Maisonet, una inquilina de Starett City, quien dijo "Muchos inquilinos en El Bronx viven en condiciones horribles, pero los caseros no hacen los arreglos para que la gente se vaya de los apartamentos y después poder aumentar la renta al doble".

El casero no quería hacer los arreglos al apartamento donde vive la puertorriqueña Jaqueline Pérez, pero con un poco de conocimiento de las leyes fue a la corte y gano el caso. "Los que más sufren estos abusos son las personas que no tienen documentos, no hablan el inglés y no saben las leyes, por eso deben ir a organizaciones como Make the Road para que les ayuden", dijo la mujer que portaba una pancarta que leía "No a las rentas ilegales".