Res. No. 285
Resolution calling upon the United States Congress and President to end the Cuban embargo and Cuban travel ban.
By Council Members Barron, Cabán, Brewer, Restler, Hanif, Bottcher, Nurse, Krishnan, Avilés, Stevens, Hudson, Rivera, Williams, Gutiérrez, Richardson Jordan, Riley, Marte, Ossé, Farías, Louis, Joseph, Won, Sanchez and Narcisse
Whereas, The United States (US), virtually since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in January 1959, has unsuccessfully sought to assassinate former Cuban President Fidel Castro over 600 times, through a variety of overt as well as covert means, such as the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961; and
Whereas, Most notoriously, the US, in the hopes of isolating Cuba and starving the Cuban people into rebellion, has maintained an economic blockade, or embargo of Cuba, which was first imposed in 1960 during the Eisenhower administration, and which is the longest economic embargo in history; and
Whereas, Recent decades have witnessed steadily growing opposition to the US Cuban embargo, both internationally and domestically. In particular, every year since 1992, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution declaring the embargo a violation of the both the Charter of the United Nations and International Law. During the most recent vote in June 2021, a total of 184 countries voted in favor of a resolution to demand the end of the US economic blockade on Cuba, for the 29th year in a row; and
Whereas, The ending of both the Cuban embargo and travel ban would be of great benefit to both the US and Cuba, particularly in the areas of medical and biotechnological research, economic opportunities, education health care, the arts, music sports and tourism; and
Whereas, The City of New York would greatly benefit from the restoration of trade with the Republic of Cuba, through permitting the exportation of products and services to this neighboring country of over 11 million people, and the importation of Cuban products useful to city of New York, such as life-saving medicines and vaccines; and
Whereas, New York City’s citizens and residents and its institutions and businesses are negatively affected by the embargo and travel ban’s restrictions as they violate the right to travel, and harm economic opportunities that enhanced trade with Cuba would initiate; and
Whereas, The United States Congress is urged to promulgate and pass legislation that will finally and fully end the unsuccessful 62-year-old economic, financial, and commercial embargo, as well as the travel restrictions on US citizens and residents to Cuba, and Cuban citizens to the United States; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, The Council of the City of New York call upon the United States Congress and President to end the Cuban embargo and Cuban travel ban.
Session 12
LS 8513
08.05.22
Session 11
CD
LS 12227-12563
Res. 1092-2019