Res. No. 1222
Resolution calling for civil discourse in presidential campaigns and debates, and condemning a candidate's statements claiming that children in poor neighborhoods lack work habits and have no one around them that work and referring to child labor laws as stupid.
By Council Members Wills, Arroyo, Chin, Comrie, Ferreras, James, Koslowitz, Lander, Rose, Vann, Williams, Palma and Rodriguez
Whereas, America has social and economic needs that would be best addressed by leaders who analyze data and trends, then formulate public policy solutions to address the needs of its citizens; and
Whereas, Comments that play upon stereotypes of any kind have no place in public discourse; and
Whereas, On December 1, 2012 while on a campaign stop in Des Moines, Iowa, presidential candidate Newt Gingrich stated that, "really poor children, in really poor neighborhoods have no habits of working and have nobody around them who works so they have no habit of showing up on Monday;" and
Whereas, In November 2011, while speaking at an event at Harvard University, Newt Gingrich referred to child labor laws as "stupid" and stated that he would "replace janitors with schoolchildren;" and
Whereas, According to Andrea Lever, president of the Corporation for Enterprise Development, a nonprofit that helps low-income families build wealth, most poor children live in families with a working adult; and
Whereas, An analysis of United States Census data conducted by Andrew A. Beveridge, a sociologist at Queens College, widely regarded as the definitive analysis on poverty, also concluded that most poor children live in a household where at least one parent is employed; and
Whereas, According to a recent New York Times article, even among children who live in extreme poverty, which is defined as 50 percent of the poverty level, one third have at least one working parent; and
Whereas, On January 16, 2012, one of the presidential candidates made additional comments in relation to hunger, college and career readiness, issues relevant to the people of New York City, that were ill-conceived; and
Whereas, Those seeking public office should do their due diligence to ensure that information spread while seeking public office encourages healthy public discourse; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls for civil discourse in presidential campaigns and debates, and condemms a candidate's statements claiming that children in poor neighborhoods lack work habits and have no one around them that work and referring to child labor laws as stupid.
FCC
LS # 3112
LS # 3271
01/13/12