File #: Res 1941-2001    Version: * Name: Calling on the U.S. Government to release the "Vieques 4" from incarceration.
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Parks, Recreation, Cultural Affairs, and International Intergroup Relations
On agenda: 6/5/2001
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the United States government to release Council Member Adolfo Carrion, Jr. and the other members of the "Vieques 4" from incarceration.
Sponsors: Peter F. Vallone, Margarita Lopez, Archie W. Spigner, Victor L. Robles, Herbert E. Berman, June M. Eisland, Stanley E. Michels, Wendell Foster, Jerome X. O'Donovan, Morton Povman, Bill Perkins, Thomas V. Ognibene, Una Clarke, Noach Dear, Stephen DiBrienza, Martin Malave-Dilan, Kenneth K. Fisher, Kathryn E. Freed, Lloyd Henry, Helen M. Marshall, Mary Pinkett, Michael J. Abel, Pedro G. Espada, Karen Koslowitz, Guillermo Linares, Juanita E. Watkins, Thomas White, Priscilla A. Wooten
Council Member Sponsors: 28
Res. No. 1941 Title Resolution calling upon the United States government to release Council Member Adolfo Carrion, Jr. and the other members of the "Vieques 4" from incarceration. Body By The Speaker (Council Member Vallone) and Council Members Lopez, Spigner, Robles, Berman, Eisland, Michels, Foster, O'Donovan, Povman, Perkins, Ognibene, Clarke, Dear, DiBrienza, Malave-Dilan, Fisher, Freed, Henry, Marshall, Pinkett and Abel; also Council Members Espada, Koslowitz, Linares, Watkins, White and Wooten Whereas, Council Member Adolfo Carrion, Jr., former Council Member and New York State Assemblyman Jose Rivera, former New York State Assemblyman Roberto Ramirez and the Reverend Al Sharpton now known as the "Vieques 4" were convicted and sentenced on May 1, 2001 for protesting the military bombing exercises on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico; and Whereas, As a Council Member, Adolfo Carrion, Jr. serves the 14th District of the City of New York, which represents the Fordham, Kingsbridge, Morris Heights, and the West Bronx sections of Bronx County; and Whereas, In his role as Council Member, Adolfo Carrion, Jr. is the Chairman of the Council's Subcommittee on the Census; in addition he serves on the Committees of Economic Development, Environmental Protection; Governmental Operations; Higher Education; Land Use; Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting & Maritime Uses and the Subcommittee on Planning, Dispositions & Concessions; and Whereas, Adolfo Carrion, Jr. also serves as a representative in the Council's Black & Latino Caucus, which represents minority communities on various issues, in particular, ensuring that essential City services are being delivered to such communities; and Whereas, In his role as a Council Member, Adolfo Carrion, Jr., is one of 51 legislators responsible for adopting the City's budget; and Whereas, The Fiscal Year 2002 budget represents funding for such important areas as senior citizen services, day care needs for families, foster care, library services, cultural programs, legal aid services, alternatives to incarceration, sanitation services and youth services; and Whereas, In addition, Adolfo Carrion, Jr. is on the Budget Negotiating Team which identifies revenues and determines what City services need to be provided for in the upcoming fiscal year; therefore his presence and input in the budget negotiating process for the upcoming fiscal year is essential; and Whereas, In order to provide that a budget may be adopted by June 5th and a final budget may be in place prior to the start of the fiscal year, the Charter sets out a tight and specific schedule of deadlines by which the Mayor and the Council must have completed certain acts required for the adoption of the budget; and Whereas, In light of the statutory requirements of the Charter in enacting the budget, it is essential that all Council members, especially Adolfo Carrion, Jr., be present in order to participate in various budget discussions that will directly impact the constituents that they are sworn to serve; and Whereas, As a result of Adolfo Carrion, Jr.'s incarceration, he will not be able to either vote or participate in the enactment of the Fiscal 2002 budget on behalf of the residents of the 14th District; and Whereas, Adolfo Carrion, Jr.'s incarceration directly impacts on important issues regarding the functions of City government and the representation of residents of the City by their elected officials and his presence and participation, as the Council prepares to enact the Fiscal year 2002 budget, is vital, now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City New York calls upon the United States government to release Council Member Adolfo Carrion, Jr. and the other members of the "Vieques 4" from incarceration.