Res. No. 1783 Title Resolution condemning the vicious attack on the Dominican-American community, in a flier distributed in the Riverdale community in the Bronx, and calling on all New Yorkers to repudiate such actions. Body By Council Members Linares, Berman, Malave-Dilan, Eisland, Espada, Freed, Koslowitz, Lopez, Marshall, Michels, Nelson, Provenzano, Reed and Rivera; also Council Members Fisher, Foster, Harrison, Quinn, Robinson, Robles and Rodriguez Whereas, A flyer was distributed by one or more anonymous persons within the Riverdale community in the Bronx; and Whereas, A significant number of Dominican-Americans reside and work in this community; and Whereas, The flyer was entitled "Dominican Drug Dealers,' and racially attacked the Dominican-American community with misconceived, false, and slanderous perceptions and statements about the Dominican-American community; and Whereas, The flyer erroneously suggests that the Dominican-American community is responsible for such social ills as noise pollution, unsafe streets, sexual harassment and other negative social phenomena; and Whereas, The flyer also states that the Dominican community "sells drugs to our kids, many die as a result and homes are destroyed;" and Whereas, The flyer also uses such pejorative and inflammatory rhetoric as characterizing the presence of Dominican-Americans in Washington Heights, Dyckman and connecting areas as "infestation;" and Whereas, Local taxi companies such as Kiss, HighClass, Diplo, Professional and Bailey are portrayed in the flyer as criminals and sexual offenders; and Whereas, The flyer further claims that "Many [Dominican-Americans] are illegal immigrants sneaking in. Some go by boat to Puerto Rico, married or come to the United States with other names and Social Securities;' and Whereas, In point of fact, Dominican-Americans have become the fastest-growing immigrant group in the City of New York, and one of the largest immigrant groups in the City; and Whereas, Dominican-Americans have contributed to the community, as taxpayers, as workers and entrepreneurs, as friends and neighbors, as volunteers and community activists, and as citizens; and Whereas, This hateful pamphlet comes at a time when that the Dominican community is in celebration of its heritage and for its growth and prosperity that have influenced all aspects of our society and helped to revive and rejuvenate neighborhoods throughout the City; and Whereas, New York is a city of immigrants and the gateway to a nation of immigrants and will not tolerate hate speech, demagoguery or intolerance in any form; now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the Council of the City of New York condemns the vicious attack on the Dominican-American community, in a flier distributed in the Riverdale community in the Bronx, and calls on all New Yorkers to repudiate such actions. SF:bg LS#3956 D-Res.#6 2/23/01 |10
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