[00:00:03]
I'M MAYOR BRASCH AND I'M HERE WITH THE COUNCIL.AND WE'RE ABOUT TO START A VERY IMPORTANT THING IN OUR CITY,
[Citizens to Be Heard on March 4, 2026.]
THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD SEGMENT OF OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS.THIS IS A CHANCE WHERE ANYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY CAN SPEAK FOR UP TO THREE MINUTES ABOUT WHATEVER ISSUE THEY THINK IS IMPORTANT.
IF YOU COME UP TO THE MIC, I'D ASK YOU TO GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
AND PLEASE REMEMBER TO TREAT US WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AS WE TREAT YOU WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
UH, MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? DYLAN VALLEY.
I'M WITH SEIU 32 BJ, I'M THE HUDSON VALLEY DISTRICT LEADER.
IF YOU WILL ENTERTAIN ME, I HAVE A STATEMENT THAT I'D LIKE TO READ TO YOU ALL.
UM. WE ARE A UNION OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE IMMIGRANTS.
32 BJ PROUD TO FIGHT NOT ONLY FOR OUR MEMBERS, UH, FOR OUR MEMBERS, BUT FOR ALL WORKING PEOPLE FIGHTING TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.
WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE WHITE PLAINS COMMON COUNCIL FOR TAKING AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP TONIGHT BY PASSING A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING IMMIGRANTS AND DENOUNCING THE CURRENT TACTICS OF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING ICE.
AT A TIME WHEN MANY IMMIGRANT FAMILIES ARE FEELING ANXIOUS AND UNCERTAIN.
THE RESOLUTION SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE.
WHITE PLAINS STANDS WITH ITS RESIDENTS, DOCUMENTED OR UNDOCUMENTED.
WE ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL'S CALL FOR THIS FOR STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS TO PASS LAWS PROHIBITING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS FROM CONCEALING THEIR IDENTITIES.
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE FOUNDATIONAL TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
WHEN OFFICERS OPERATE OPENLY AND CLEARLY IDENTIFY THEMSELVES, IT BUILDS TRUST.
WHEN AUTHORITY IS CONCEALED, IT ERODES IT.
THIS RESOLUTION IS AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT OF VALUES, AND WE BELIEVE IT CAN ALSO BE THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING MORE.
WHITE PLAINS HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
TO MOVE BEYOND URGING ACTION AND TO TAKE MEANINGFUL, LOCAL STEPS THAT ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN OUR OWN CITY.
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE GRAPPLING WITH THESE ISSUES.
WHITE PLAINS CAN SET THE STANDARD.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL TO EXPLORE NEXT STEPS THAT TRANSLATE TONIGHT'S VALUES INTO LASTING PROTECTIONS FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AND WORKING PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.
THIS IS HOW PROGRESS HAPPENS, ONE STEP AT A TIME WITH PARTNERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP.
HELLO. MY NAME IS DOCTOR GABE RODRIGUEZ.
I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL FOR PASSING, FOR PUTTING FORTH THIS RESOLUTION.
I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP FOR OUR CITY TO PROVE TO OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND PROVE TO OUR LATINO COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE WITH THEM.
UH, AND I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS JUST A SHOW, THAT THIS IS JUST SOMETHING TO DO ON THE SURFACE.
BUT I THINK EVEN I THINK EVEN TODAY WE NEED TO MAKE THESE ACTIONS, WE NEED TO MAKE THESE MOVEMENTS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT DOING MORE IS DIFFICULT, BUT ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS MILAGROS LECUONA TO 69 ALMANAC ROAD.
A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, I MIGHT ADD.
TONIGHT YOU ARE CONSIDERING A VITAL RESOLUTION.
I URGE YOU TO APPROVE IT, AS IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT BOTH THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE AND US CONGRESS ENACT LAWS PREVENTING FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM CONCEALING THEIR IDENTITIES.
THIS MEASURE PROTECTS OUR COMMUNITIES AND UPHOLDS TRANSPARENCY.
I SINCERELY THANK EVERYONE WHO HELPED ADVANCE THIS RESOLUTION, ESPECIALLY JEREMIAH PEARSON, EVELYN SANTIAGO, MR. MAYOR, AND ANY OTHER COMMON COUNCIL MEMBER AND ANY STAFF MEMBER IN THE DEPARTMENT HELPING ON THIS.
I WANT ALSO TO THANK TO SEND A SPECIAL THANK TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY IS VITAL FOR EMBRACING OUR CITY'S DIVERSITY AND ENSURING SAFETY WITHOUT FEAR.
IT IS TROUBLING THAT WE MUST PASS SUCH RESOLUTIONS TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THOSE MEANT TO KEEP US SAFE.
THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT WAS TO DEPORT UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WITH CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS, BUT NOW IT FEELS AS THOUGH ANYONE CAN BE TARGETED, FOSTERING UNNECESSARY FEAR.
GROWING UP UNDER FRANCO'S DICTATORSHIP IN SPAIN, EVEN DURING VIOLENT TIMES.
POLICE NEVER HIT THEIR IDENTITIES.
BUT UNDER AUTHORITARIAN RULE, ELECTIONS DISAPPEARED.
WE MUST NOT LET HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF IN OUR NATION.
[00:05:03]
LET'S ENSURE PRESIDENT TRUMP DOES NOT UNDERMINE THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.PLEASE UPDATE YOUR IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS IF NECESSARY, AND STAY INFORMED ABOUT ELECTIONS CHANGES.
MAKE SURE YOURS AND EVERYONE'S COUNTED IS COUNTED.
UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE FORUM AND FOR CONSIDERING THE, UM, VERY IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
SEED STANDS FOR SEEKING EQUITY AND EDUCATIONAL DIVERSITY.
I'VE BEEN THE ADVISOR IN WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL FOR OVER 30 YEARS NOW.
ALSO A SPANISH TEACHER THERE SINCE 1987.
I WOULD LIKE TO READ A LETTER FROM THE OFFICERS AND SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CLUB.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS? UH, A STUDENT, VIVI NGUYEN, WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
SHE WASN'T FEELING WELL AND ASKED ME TO READ THE LETTER FROM ALL OF THEM TO YOU, TO THE MEMBERS OF THE WHITE PLAINS CITY COUNCIL.
WE ARE MEMBERS OF CEED AT WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE ARE WRITING IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE REQUIRING ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO SHOW THEIR FACES AND WEAR CLEARLY VISIBLE IDENTIFICATION WHILE CARRYING OUT ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS IN PUBLIC.
AS STUDENTS, WE ARE WRITING NOT JUST ABOUT POLICY, BUT ABOUT THE ISSUES.
SORRY, BUT ABOUT WHAT THIS ISSUE FEELS LIKE IN OUR SCHOOLS AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IN SEED, WE HAVE HELD MEETINGS AND CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ICE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND HOW FEAR AFFECTS STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND DAILY LIFE IN WESTCHESTER.
THOSE DISCUSSIONS HAVE MADE ONE THING CLEAR.
WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW WHO IS STOPPING THEM, QUESTIONING THEM, OR DETAINING THEM, SOMEONE IN FRONT OF THEM, FEAR SPREADS FAR BEYOND THAT.
ONE MOMENT IT ENTERS CLASSROOMS, HOMES, AND ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS MATTER DEEPLY MATTERS DEEPLY IN WESTCHESTER.
ACCORDING TO THE COUNTY POPULATION DATA, OVER A QUARTER OF WESTCHESTER RESIDENTS ARE FOREIGN BORN, AND 46.1 OF THE PERCENT OF THE RESIDENTS AGE FIVE AND OLDER SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH AT HOME.
THAT MEANS POLICIES AROUND TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT DIRECTLY AFFECT A LARGE SHARE OF THE FAMILIES WHO MAKE UP OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY.
RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS THAT IMMIGRATION RELATED FEAR CHANGES HOW FAMILIES INTERACT WITH INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT THEM.
THE URBAN INSTITUTE FOUND THAT 17% OF ADULTS IN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES REPORTED THAT THEY, OR A FAMILY MEMBER HAVE AVOIDED AT LEAST ONE ROUTINE ACTIVITY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO BE ASKED ABOUT CITIZENSHIP STATUS.
4.7 AVOIDED TALKING WITH TEACHERS OR SCHOOL OFFICIALS AMONG FAMILIES WITH MORE VULNERABLE IMMIGRATION STATUS, 19.2% AVOIDED TALKING TO THE POLICE OR REPORTING A CRIME.
7.9% AVOIDED TALKING WITH TEACHERS OR SCHOOL OFFICIALS AS STUDENTS.
THAT STANDS OUT TO US WHEN FAMILIES ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK TO TEACHERS, SCHOOL STAFF OR POLICE.
STUDENTS CARRY THAT STRESS WITH THEM INTO SCHOOL.
THEY WORRY ABOUT WHETHER THEIR PARENTS ARE SAFE, WHETHER THEY SHOULD STAY QUIET, OR WHETHER ASKING FOR HELP WILL MAKE THINGS WORSE.
ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN LEARN, GROW, OR FEEL PROTECTED.
THE SAME URBAN INSTITUTE STUDY THAT ADULTS AND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES WHO REPORTED AVOIDING THESE KINDS OF ROUTINE ACTIVITIES WERE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO REPORT SERIOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS.
WE DO NOT NEED MORE FEAR IN OUR SCHOOLS.
WE NEED TRUST, CLARITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC TRUST IS ESSENTIAL FOR SAFETY RESEARCH.
SUPPORTED BY THE URBAN INSTITUTE AND THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NOTES THAT GREATER POLICE LEGITIMACY AND COMMUNITY TRUST INCREASES PEOPLE'S WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CAN MAKE ENCOUNTERS LESS TENSE AND LESS LIKELY TO ESCALATE, REQUIRING OFFICERS TO SHOW THEIR FACES AND IDENTIFY THEMSELVES IS A BASIC PART OF LEGITIMACY.
PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW WHO IS EXERCISING AUTHORITY OVER THEM.
WE HAVE TO ASK YOU TO SUM UP, THOUGH.
WE SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT MORE THAN APPEARANCE.
IT'S ABOUT WHETHER STUDENTS CAN GO TO SCHOOL WITHOUT FEAR, WHETHER FAMILIES CAN ASK FOR HELP WITHOUT PANIC, AND WHETHER OUR COMMUNITY CAN BELIEVE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ACTING OPENLY AND RESPONSIBLY.
SINCERELY, THE SEED MEMBERS OF WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
JUST ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
[00:10:01]
UM, BUT WHAT WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR TODAY IS A STEP BEFORE AN ORDINANCE.HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE AN ORDINANCE SOON.
TURNS OUT THAT CONCLUDES OUR SESSION OF CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
WE WILL BE RETURNING AT 7:00 FOR THE REGULAR STATED COUNCIL MEETING 730.
PARDON ME.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.