MANHATTAN BOROUGH BOARD RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF PASSAGE OF THE NEW YORK STATE DREAM ACT AND DREAM FUND
WHEREAS, America is a nation of immigrants and New York City is sustained by our immigrant past, present and future; and
WHEREAS, New York City is home to the largest population of immigrants of any city in the US; well over three million foreign-born residents comprise nearly 40 percent of New York City's total population; and immigrants compose over 40 percent of the city's workforce and are essential to our economic output and stability; and
WHEREAS, Over 30 percent of Manhattan's residents are foreign-born and a number of the borough's community districts are majority foreign-born; and
WHEREAS, The State of New York and the nation as a whole could benefit from passage of DREAM (acronym for Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) legislation including the NYS DREAM Act (S.4179-b/A.6829-b) and NYS DREAM Fund (A. 8689); and
WHEREAS, The federal DREAM Act Legislation has failed to pass; and
WHEREAS, The States of Texas, California, New Mexico and Illinois have voted to sign DREAM legislation into law; and
WHEREAS, The State of New York must move to pass the NYS DREAM Act and NYS DREAM Fund in order to enable our youth to maximize their potential and make valuable economic and social impacts in our communities, strengthening our ability to compete and thrive in a global economy and society; therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five supports passage of the New York State DREAM Act and DREAM Fund; and be it further
RESOLVED, Community Board Five applauds Senator Perkins and Assemblymember Linares for the introduction of the New York State DREAM Act; and be it further
RESOLVED, Community Board Five applauds Assemblymember Moya for his introduction of the New York State DREAM Fund; and be it further
RESOLVED, Community Board Five offers full support for the DREAM legislation introduced in the State Assembly and State Senate, as it will open doors for higher education and civic engagement to all students in New York State regardless of their immigration status.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 34 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.