Decency and Tolerance Win In Suffolk County

Last night, Working Families suceeded in defeating proposed anti-immigrant legislation in the Suffolk County Legislature by a vote of 10 to 6.

Hopefully this win signals the beginning of a change in political discourse. Here's Brian Schneck, Co-Chair of the Suffolk Chapter of Working Families:

"The tide is turning in Suffolk County . . . After several years of grandstanding politicians riding a wave of anti-immigrant animus, people are starting to return to their senses. Common-sense values of decency and tolerance prevailed last night.
. . .
Legislators need to know that working families are looking for real solutions to the problems facing us here on Long Island, not useless political grandstanding.
. . .
There are many victims of our nation's inadequate immigration policies, as well as the failure of government to enforce labor laws. But this bill only fueled the flames of misunderstanding and intolerance."

Working Families organized opposition to the bill, including:

• A public letter to the bill's sponsor, Jack Eddington, that said that support for the bill would be a factor in the party's endorsement process.
• Robocalls to constituents of undecided legislators that connected them directly to their legislators to register opposition.
• Grassroots lobbying of swing legislators, including in-person visits and phone calls.
• Bringing members to testify against the bill at public hearings and press conferences.
  
• Mobilizing opposition from progressive and labor allies.
  

Our thanks to the 10 legislators who voted "no":

1. Kate Browning
2. John Kennedy, Jr
3. Thomas Barraga
4. Steven Stern
5. Louis D'Amaro
6. William Lindsay
7. Jon Cooper
8. Ricardo Montano
9. Vivian Viloria-Fisher
10. Elie Mystal
    

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who made calls, came to speak at legislative hearings, lobbied swing legislators, and a special congratulations to Brian Schneck, Michele Lynch, Regina Corby-Graham, Bill Page and Susan Steinmann, as well as affiliates UAW, SEIU 32BJ, Laborers Union, LIPC and UNITE HERE for all your hard work against this bill!

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Suffolk Votes on Anti-Immigrant Bill

Debate has started in the Suffolk County Legislature on proposed anti-immigrant legislation, with a vote scheduled for tonight. Last Thursday, the Suffolk County Legislature's Public Safety committee voted 4-3 to advance the bill out of committee.

Working Families oppose this bill, and, in addition to our grassroots organizing against it, we've gone into the field with a robocall in the districts of four swing legislators. Our robocall calls the bill what it is - meaningless political grandstanding that won't help workers and won't help our communities. The robocall ends with the option for people to call their county legislator.

More on this as it develops.

Update: We won! Only six votes for the anti-immigrant bill, they needed 10. More in the morning, but I wanted to share the good news.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party

Working Families Oppose Anti-Immigrant Bill

Working Families is fighting proposed anti-immigrant legislation in the Suffolk County Legislature. Suffolk County Working Families Chapter Co-Chair Brian Schneck called out the bill's supporters,

"Legislators need to know that working families are looking for real solutions to the problems facing us here on Long Island, not useless political grandstanding,"

The Suffolk County legislature's Public Safety committee is meeting today for a public hearing on the bill, at which we'll distribute a letter opposing the bill signed by us and SEIU Local 32BJ, UNITE HERE, Long Island Progressive Coalition, Asbestos Lead & Hazardous Waste Laborers Local 78 and Mason Tenders/Demolition Laborers Local 79.

Here's the letter:

Dear Legislator:

As affiliates of the Working Families Party, we write to register our strong opposition to Intro. Res. No.1022-2007, the so-called anti-soliciting bill. This legislation is the worst kind of political grandstanding: it exploits anti-immigrant animus while accomplishing exactly nothing of value.

The net effects of Res No. 1022 would be to (1) move day laborers from county highways to local roads, (2) score political points for its proponents with rabid nativists, (3) hurt labor’s ability to hold collective job actions, and (4) possibly infringe on the civil liberties of New Yorkers engaged in grassroots political activity.

The congregation of day laborers raises real problems. This bill solves none of them. Constructive solutions like regulated work centers would.

As affiliates of the political party to which the bill's co-sponsor belongs, we are particularly galled that this legislation is now being associated with Working Families.

Comments by the bill's prime sponsor, Legislator Eddington, make clear the intent of the legislation:

Eddington . . . told reporters that the problems of rising taxes and illegal immigration were "two sides of the same coin," and warned illegal immigrants, "You better beware." "If you're here in Suffolk County illegally, you will not stay here," Mr. Eddington said. "If you are on the street looking for work and causing unsafe conditions, you will not stay. Suffolk County residents will not be victimized anymore."

There are many victims of our nation's inadequate immigration policies, as well as the failure of government to enforce labor laws. But this bill only fuels the flames of misunderstanding and intolerance.

Sincerely,

We've got a good chance of beating this bill, Newsday runs down the vote count. More on this as it develops.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party

Grandstanding in Suffolk

The Suffolk Working Families Chapter sent this letter to Suffolk County Legislator Jack Eddington today by fax (631-854-1403) and email (Jack.Eddington@suffolkcountyny.gov).

The Hon. Jack Eddington
90 W. Main St - Suite 2N
Patchogue, NY 11772

Dear Legislator Eddington:

We write to register our strong opposition to Intro. Res. No. 1022-2007, the so-called anti-soliciting bill. This legislation is the worst kind of political grandstanding: it exploits anti-immigrant animus while accomplishing exactly nothing of value.

The net effects of Res No. 1022 would be to (1) move day laborers from county highways to local roads, (2) score political points for its proponents with rabid nativists, (3) hurt organized labor's ability to hold collective job actions, and (4) possibly infringe on the civil liberties of New Yorkers engaged in grassroots political activity.

The congregation of day laborers raises real problems. Your bill solves none of them. Constructive solutions like regulated work centers would.

As leaders of the political party to which you belong, we are particularly galled that your legislation is now being associated with Working Families.

Your quotations in the New York Times leave no secret of the bill's aim:

Eddington . . . told reporters that the problems of rising taxes and illegal immigration were "two sides of the same coin," and warned illegal immigrants, "You better beware." "If you're here in Suffolk County illegally, you will not stay here," Mr. Eddington said. "If you are on the street looking for work and causing unsafe conditions, you will not stay. Suffolk County residents will not be victimized anymore."

Your terrorizing rhetoric is embarrassing. There are many victims of our nation's inadequate immigration policies, as well as the failure of government to enforce labor laws. But congratulations to you for joining the ranks of the perpetrators.

Unless you withdraw Res. No. 1022-2007, it is very unlikely that you will receive the endorsement of Working Families' Suffolk chapter for your 2007 re-election bid.

Sincerely,

Brian Schneck, Co-Chair
Suffolk County Chapter of the Working Families Party

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Next Time, Hunt the Republicans

The GOP kids from NYU went through with their sick little joke. They were substantially outnumbered by protesters carrying the message, "We Are All Immigrants."

It's worth still shining a light on the ugliness. Below are a screenshot of the event promotional page from Facebook (via Gothamist) and a short video (via Gawker) focusing on the response.

NYU College Republicans to America: We Hate You

Kids will be kids, and College Republicans will be College Republicans. But the "illegal immigrant hunt" that the NYU chapter has planned for tomorrow in Washington Square Park goes about three steps beyond the pale (hat tip to Gothamist).

Cheers to the hundreds of students who plan to protest.

Here's what happened at a similar event at the University of Texas in Austin where protesters far outnumbered the moronic "hunters" from the Young Conservatives of Texas:


The organizers of the "hunt" -- the officers of the NYU CRs -- have been good enough to provide their contact information on the Internet in case anyone wants to express their feelings about Thursday's adventure:

Please feel free to contact any of our officers via email:

President, Sarah L. Chambers, slc369@nyu.edu
Vice President, Rakibul Islam, ri350@nyu.edu
Secretary, Cait Kannall, cek262@nyu.edu
Treasurer, Neal Sangani, nps234@stern.nyu.edu
Webmaster, Greg Hammond, gch219@nyu.edu
Social Chair, Richard Rossi, rwr223@nyu.edu
Campaign and Internship Chair, David Laska, del274@nyu.edu