Text of releases.
OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER
YDANIS RODRIGUEZ
CITY HALL
NEW YORK, NY 10007
(212) 788-7053
(646) 574-7950
Thursday, June 27th, 2019
**STATEMENT**
The Supreme Court Of The United States Blocks the Addition Of A Citizenship Question On The Census
"Today is a day of celebration for all our brothers and sisters that were fearful of the 2020 Census citizenship question. The citizenship question was an effort led by President Trump and his supporters to intimidate immigrants and further disenfranchise them. Our immigrants contribute billions of dollars into our economy. We must ensure that they feel protected and safe in our country. This is only the beginning of a process that started with the Supreme Court; I will continue to work with Speaker Corey Johnson, the Co-Chair of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus, Daneek Miller, and my colleagues at the New York City Council to ensure that all New Yorkers are counted, at the same time that they are treated with the respect they deserve."
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June 27, 2019
STATEMENT FROM THE NEW YORK STATE COMPLETE COUNT COMMISSION ON THE SUPREME COURT’S RULING REGARDING THE CITIZENSHIP QUESTION ON THE CENSUS
“We agree with the U.S. Supreme Court that the Trump administration’s explanation for including the citizenship question was contrived. The administration’s real motivation was to suppress the count of certain groups. While this decision is a victory for New York State as the citizenship question is off the census for now, given that this decision is complex and that the case is being sent back for further consideration, there will remain confusion and a potential chilling effect in many of our communities across New York State.
“The Complete Count Commission will not rest. We have heard from hundreds of individuals at hearings across the state who must be counted in the census. We will continue our work to make sure every resident of New York State is counted, regardless of this case’s ultimate outcome.”
“The proper role of government is to do everything in its power to ensure a complete and accurate census count. The Department of Commerce should abandon its desire to weaponize the census process and instead focus on their constitutional obligation to count every person across the country.”
The New York State Complete Count Commission
Jim Malatras, President, Rockefeller Institute of Government, Co-Chair
Rossana Rosado, New York State Secretary of State, Co-Chair
Adam J. Bello, Monroe County Clerk
Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Executive
Andrew A. Beveridge, Ph.D., President and CEO of Social Explorer & Professor of Sociology at Queens College and the Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York
Byron W. Brown, Mayor, City of Buffalo
Jose Calderón, President of the Hispanic Federation
Karim Camara, Executive Director and Deputy Commissioner, Governor's Office of Faith-Based Community Development
Héctor J. Figueroa, President of 32BJ Service Employees International Union
Lauren Moore, Executive Director, Pioneer Library System
Bitta Mostofi, Commissioner of the New York City Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs
Roberta Reardon, Commissioner, New York State Department of Labor
Joseph Salvo, Chief Demographic Officer, New York City Planning Department
Esmeralda Simmons, Founder & Executive Director, Center for Law & Social Justice at Medgar Evers College, CUNY
Lovely Warren, Mayor of the City of Rochester
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Contact:
Thursday, June 17, 2019 Jeff Wice (518)455-3821
SUPREME COURT DECISION A BIG WIN FOR DEMOCRACY
Statement from Assistant Speaker Felix W. Ortiz (D-Kings):
"The U.S. Supreme Court did the right thing today by sending the census citizenship case back to the New York federal court for more review. The Trump Administration attempted to politicize the census for partisan advantage and the Supreme Court stopped that from happening. Although the President's lawyers will try to find a way to get the citizenship question back on track, the clock is running against them. Today's ruling is a victory for democracy and especially for our hard working immigrant friends and neighbors who would have been hurt by the citizenship question.”
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CONTACT: Kerri Biché
(518) 455-3888
bichek@nyassembly.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 27, 2019
Speaker Heastie Statement on Supreme Court Census Question Ruling
The Census is an essential tool the United States uses to determine the allocation of seats in the House of Representatives and the distribution of billions of dollars in federal funding for our schools, health care facilities, housing and other critical services.
Here in New York, we are proud of our state’s diversity, and we are committed to ensuring everyone participates in the 2020 Census. No one should be afraid to be counted.
Since the administration in Washington first proposed adding a citizenship question to the census, leaders in New York and across the country have questioned their motives. Today, those concerns were validated.
The Supreme Court’s ruling to block the addition of a citizenship question to the census will ensure that the census cannot be used as a weapon to undercount, underrepresent or underfund our communities. Every New Yorker must be counted.
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News from Common Cause of New York
For more information contact: Susan Lerner, 212-691-6421, slerner@commoncause.org
Common Cause/NY Applauds SCOTUS Decision on Census Citizenship Question
NEW YORK, NY (06/27/2019) (readMedia)-- Responding to breaking news that the Supreme Court has ruled unanimously against the Trump administration's attempt to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census, Common Cause/NY Executive Director Susan Lerner, released the following statement:
"The Supreme Court's ruling recognizes that Secretary Ross' intentions were indeed 'mismatched' to his explanation in seeking to add a citizenship question to the U.S. Census. It's a clear perversion of the Constitution for political gain to undermine the redistricting process, by suppressing the count in immigrant rich states like New York, which could lose out on millions of dollars in federal aid for roads, hospitals, and other shared resources. The census is an essential part of our democracy, and Common Cause/NY is committed to ensuring a fair and accurate count so that every New Yorker has a voice."
Background
In the last redistricting cycle Common Cause/NY produced the only non-partisan maps for both federal and state lines. When the Legislative Apportionment Task Force on Redistricting (LATFOR) drew gerrymandered maps for Congress, a judge appointed a federal monitor who hewed closely to the Common Cause model which heavily influenced the ultimate district lines. Common Cause has long advocated for a citizen lead, independent commission like exists in California to plan and produce maps.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2019
CONTACT: pressoffice@cityhall.nyc.gov, (212) 788-2958
STATEMENTS FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO, CORPORATION COUNSEL CARTER, CENSUS DIRECTOR MENIN ON THE SUPREME COURT DECISION REGARDING THE 2020 CENSUS CITIZENSHIP QUESTION
Statement from Mayor Bill de Blasio:
“The Supreme Court’s decision to send the citizenship question back to the lower court is a key victory in our fight, but the battle is not over. Cities across the country have stood together and made clear: if you live in the United States, regardless of immigration status, you are seen, you are heard and you must be counted. We must continue to resoundingly reject the politics of division and hate and fight for the fair representation this nation was built on. The President’s hateful administration won’t silence our voice. We must all stand up and be counted.”
Statement from Corporation Counsel Zachary W. Carter:
“We are pleased that the Supreme Court has rejected the Trump Administration’s thinly veiled attempt to discourage the participation of immigrant New Yorkers in the 2020 census by the inclusion of an unnecessary citizenship question. The City will now focus on the important work of ensuring that all New York City residents are counted in the 2020 census.”
Statement from New York City Census Director Julie Menin:
“Today’s decision affirms that the Trump Administration cannot utilize its constitutional obligation to count us as a tool to harm us. Rather than uphold the inclusion of the citizenship question, the court has rightly rejected the pretext that the Commerce Department used to justify this wholly baseless question. So while this fight is not yet over, this decision is a key victory for immigrant communities and for the City of New York in our battle to ensure this question stays off the census. With our Administration’s and the City Council’s joint historic $40 million investment in census outreach and education efforts for the city, we will ensure that every community is fully counted in next year's census and that we get our fair share of hundreds of billions in federal funds. Together, we can send a clear and strong message: we will not be silenced; we will not be invisible; and we will be counted.”
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Contact: Robert Romano
June 27, 2019 Phone: 703-383-0880 ext. 1
Commerce Department should delay printing of Census forms in light of Supreme Court ruling
June 27, 2019, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement blasting the Supreme Court ruling blocking a citizenship question on the Census:
"In light of the Roberts decision to inject the Supreme Court into any changes to questions on Census forms, which are routine, it is incumbent upon the Department of Commerce to delay printing of those forms. In the meantime, let Roberts spends July vacation determining what a proper rationale for an additional question on citizenship is, which has been used in 12 out of 15 Censuses since 1870. Perhaps Roberts would consider this fact: Federal spending to the states is largely based on population, and federal law prohibits people who are not in the U.S. legally from obtaining welfare. We were also assured by President Obama that Obamacare would not apply to those here illegally. The federal government knows how many people are in the U.S. legally through the normal immigration naturalization process.
"Should the federal government know how many citizens are in a state, it is simple math to restrict funding in those areas that like welfare and health care Congress has determined are for citizens and legal residents only. This is just one compelling interest for having a citizenship question, so that the executive branch can enforce the laws that Congress has passed on eligibility for federal benefits. It is not John Roberts' role to write Census questions, and his precedent equating each Census question to a regulatory change under the Administrative Procedures Act is disastrous across the federal government, as any changes to any form no matter how innocuous may now be subject to judicial review.
"If John Roberts wanted to be an administrative law judge, that's the job he should have applied for, but injecting the Supreme Court as the judge of any changes made to any form in the federal government is an absurd abuse of power."
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For Immediate Release: June 27, 2019
Contact: Jonathan Heppner | heppner@nysenate.gov | 518-455-2415
Statement From Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins
“The Trump administration’s attempts to politicize the census process has been shameful. The Supreme Court’s decision to block the citizenship question was the right one. Every person must be counted to ensure that the services and resources provided to our communities truly reflect their needs. The Senate Democratic Majority remains committed to fighting for all of our state’s residents.”
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For Immediate Release: 6/27/2019
GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO
STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO ON SUPREME COURT DECISION BARRING CITIZENSHIP QUESTION FROM U.S. CENSUS
"The Supreme Court's decision to block the Trump Administration's inclusion of a citizenship question on the U.S. Census is an important win for our country and our state, which has always been a beacon of hope and acceptance for immigrants.
"This decision will help ensure each and every New Yorker will be counted and provided with the critical services they need and deserve, regardless of their immigration status. Shame on the Trump Administration for its attempt to make the U.S. Census a political pawn in their continued anti-immigrant agenda.
"No matter what hateful policies are imposed by this Administration in Washington, we will always stand up and ensure every New Yorker is counted."
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2019
Attorney General’s Press Office/ 212-416-8060 nyag.pressoffice@ag.ny.gov
Attorney General James’ Statement on
U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Decennial Census
NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision, in Department of Commerce v. New York:
“Every single person in this country deserves to be counted, plain and simple. We are pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision today.
“This one question could have caused a substantial undercount, particularly of noncitizens and Latinos. Thanks to the Court, the census will remain a tool for delivering on our government’s promise of fairness and equity, and states, like New York, will not be shortchanged out of critical resources or political representation. Our democracy withstood this challenge, but make no mistake, many threats continue to lie ahead from the Trump Administration and we will not stop fighting. Now, more than ever, the marginalized, the disenfranchised, and everyday people need us to stand firm in our fight for justice. After all, everyone counts, and therefore, everyone must be counted.
“I am grateful to the talented professionals in the New York State Attorney General’s Office who worked tirelessly on this case, especially New York Solicitor General Barbara Underwood. I also want to thank our many government and public interest partners for their support and collaboration.”
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NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
June 27, 2019
Representative Adriano Espaillat Statement Following SCOTUS Decision to Withhold Citizenship Question from the 2020 Census
The Constitutionally-mandated Decennial Census is undeniably one of the most consequential duties carried out by our federal government. If immigrants and communities of color are excluded or intimidated from participating in the Census, the results will undercount our communities by millions.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) released the following statement on the Supreme Court decision in U.S. Department of Commerce v. New York to withhold the Trump Administration’s citizenship question from the 2020 Census.
“While today’s Supreme Court decision in Department of Commerce v. New York on the inclusion of the citizenship question in the 2020 Census was mixed, the Court expressed clear skepticism as to the Trump Administration’s motives,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). “Notably, the decision reads that, ‘Viewing the evidence as a whole, we share the District Court’s conviction that the decision to reinstate a citizenship question cannot be adequately explained in terms of DOJ’s request for improved citizenship data to better enforce the Voting Rights Act. Several points, considered together, reveal a significant mismatch between the decision the Secretary made and the rationale he provided.’ The Court sees right through the administration’s blatant lie that it needed to include a citizenship question to expand and enforce voting rights.
“To rehear this case with new evidence and further Trump Administration lies will take a significant amount of time that could result in the delay of the enumeration, having a more serious impact on the functioning of our democracy. The Trump Administration should drop its ridiculous effort to include a citizenship question, so we can have an on-time and accurate Census.”
The Constitutionally-mandated Decennial Census is undeniably one of the most consequential duties carried out by our federal government. If immigrants and communities of color are excluded or intimidated from participating in the Census, the results will undercount our communities by millions. This will diminish our congressional representation and the federal funding communities receive for the next decade, as well as determine the course of our democracy for generations to come.
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First elected to Congress in 2016, Rep. Adriano Espaillat is serving his second term in Congress where he serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the House Small Business Committee. He serves as a Senior Whip of the House Democratic Caucus and is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) where he also serves in a leadership role as CHC Whip. He is also chairman of the CHC Task Force for Transportation, Infrastructure and Housing. Rep. Espaillat’s Congressional District includes Harlem, East Harlem, northern Manhattan and the north-west Bronx. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.
Media inquiries: Candace Randle Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
CONTACT: Edwin Molina
(718) 590-8989
emolina@bronxbp.nyc.gov
June 27, 2019
STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ
RE: Supreme Court Ruling on the 2020 Census
“The Supreme Court has thankfully rejected President Trump’s odious attempt to weaponize the 2020 Census against immigrant communities and communities of color. This is a welcome ruling, but we must still ensure that everyone is counted next year. The Census should be inclusive so that all our communities are counted and heard. Since becoming president, President Trump has done nothing but find ways to divide this country, literally building walls between the realities of the contributions that immigrants have made.
“The Census should not be used as a list to deport and divide families or as a political tool to hijack our democracy. The proposed changes on the 2020 Census were an insidious way for the federal government to deprive Hispanic communities of a voice in government. Thanks to this ruling, our system of checks-and-balance came through to protect all of our communities,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
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