Describing immigrants as "the vitality of the city," New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer mapped out last week his priorities to address the concerns and issues facing the immigrants and low-income communities across the state.
In a press conference hosted by the Independent Press Association and held at the Manhattan Neighborhood Network studio on July 10, Spitzer vowed to create an outreach center that will provide immigrants and ethnic minorities a wider access to public services.
"This is a city that depends upon immigrants," Spitzer said. "Millions of hardworking immigrants, who are here to fulfill their dreams, pay taxes and help improve our economy, deserve the benefits that most New York residents get."
Spitzer, who is currently running for New York City governor, told ethnic and community press reporters that he strongly supports an immigration reform that would give a legal status to undocumented immigrants. He lashed out at a new policy of New York's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that prohibits undocumented immigrants from getting their driver's licenses.
"We should change the policy – it’s that simple. I don't believe in limiting the driver's licenses," he said. "And those who say that undocumented immigrants should be sent back are silly; it is not viable."
Spitzer added that Mayor Bloomberg's Executive Order 41, which rules that city employees – including police – are not allowed to ask individuals of their immigration status (unless it involves a crime), should be imposed effectively to protect immigrants. Everything should be handled with confidentiality, he added, in any public institutions to protect the rights of every city resident.
While thousands of New Yorkers have moved out of the state because of the current exorbitant apartment rentals and countless housing problems, Spitzer expressed confidence that there are public housing projects for low-income families.
"The state has many resources, particularly properties that are not being used. We want to convert them to affordable housing projects," he said.
Translation service in hospitals and schools is also a major priority for the gubernatorial hopeful. "We heard about many cases of patients who cannot tell the doctor exactly what they feel, or parents in schools who cannot participate in several programs because of language barriers. We hope to improve city services by providing translation services for those who need them," he said.
When asked what can he do to help thousands of immigrant victims who ended up overstaying after they were scammed by fake lawyers, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate said that "we are trying our best to give the victims' money back."
He did not, however, mention what kind of services he could provide to the victims in terms of their immigration status.
