Leading Immigrant Groups to Release 2017 Budget Report
New York City: With the New York City (NYC) budget process moving towards final negotiations, on Tuesday leading immigrant organizations will release a new report highlighting priority areas for immigrant communities at a policy briefing for press. The second annual report, “A Budget for the City of Immigrants: Key Proposals to Ensure NYC’s 2017 Budget Responds to the Needs,” will be released by Asian American Federation, Make the Road New York, New York Immigration Coalition, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, and the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families. The report applauds NYC for taking many affirmative steps for immigrant communities, while underscoring key areas for additional investment, including: adult literacy, immigration legal services, resources for increasing health care access, investing in affordable housing and preventing tenant displacement, and more.
Citywide, immigrants represent 37 percent of the population, 45 percent of the workforce, and 49 percent of small business owners. Under Mayor de Blasio, Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Council Finance Chair Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, and Immigration Chair Carlos Menchaca, NYC has recently taken major steps to make itself welcoming to immigrants, including creating a municipal identification card (IDNYC), curtailing cooperation with federal immigration enforcement that undermines community-police relations, expanding access to pre-kindergarten and community schools, connecting thousands of immigrant New Yorkers to free, comprehensive immigration legal services, and more.
Still, the new report finds that considerable needs remain unmet to truly make New York City as welcoming and supportive of immigrant New Yorkers as possible. Too often, newcomers face major barriers to education and workforce development for adults, navigating our legal system, resisting efforts to displace them, and more. The report issues recommendations span various key issue areas: Immigrant Services, Strong Workforce, Youth, Policing, and Restorative Justice, Affordable and Safe Housing, Education, Health, Civic Engagement, LGBTQ Justice, and Newcomer Communities Capacity-Building.
The report is available from all five partner organizations.
Download from the Asian American Federation website.
5/24/2016 CONTACT: Howard Shih
2123445878, Ext:219
