I read an opinion article the other day that provided a historical context of oppression (and violation of rights) our immigrant community has endured. The article ended by stating the act of the city council to allow non-citizens voting rights was not political; oh, but how I disagree.
Let’s start by discussing the laws of voting rights in the United States and local elections. Any change in the law must be made through the proper legislative procedures. In other words, the state legislature must ratify the law in accordance with our state constitution. Allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections also takes away any special meaning of becoming a naturalized citizen (one of the proudest moments in my life was raising my right hand and becoming naturalized as an American Citizen).
What is there to gain in non-immigrant voting? Ironically, I took a ride down Roosevelt Avenue, and up 108th Street on Christmas Eve and thought to myself, “Is this really what progress is?” I remember the late Senator Peralta discussing illegal vendors on Roosevelt Avenue, and his disapproval of illegal street vending (there is a YouTube video on the internet). The late Senator Peralta made attempts to legislate a middle ground between street vendors and brick-and-motor stores. While the current sitting Senator (Jessica Ramos) wants to make our community reflect South American street markets, it now appears there is no one helping improve store front businesses in our community. Senator Ramos’ and Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez’s view on corporations and business is to take, charge, and penalize any profit motive they have. Yet, our community has increasingly become congested; illegal vendors crowd our streets and there is more crime on Roosevelt Avenue (reflecting almost the status of the 1980’s). Graffiti has also increased, and drug sales are abundant (Where is Jessica Ramos? Or Francisco Moya? Oh, yes, they were standing in an alleyway on Astoria Boulevard taking pictures with President Biden for work they have still not completed).
Will non-citizen voting improve our community, or will it just increase the number of democratic votes in elections? I agree the voices of non-citizens are important; all voices in our country are important (including those that are undocumented). Meanwhile the only thing elected officials offer to assure equality is social welfare. This is their quick response to improving society, meanwhile they cannot assure property owners their taxes won’t increase.
I cannot help but to identify the correlation between progressive policies and an increase in crime. Whether it is bail reform, legalization of prostitution, government funds for the representation of undocumented immigrants, and/or defunding the police; the policies promoted by the elected officials do more to hurt communities of color then promote progress. Now ask yourself, is this what we have in mind allowing non-citizens to vote?
Eric Cordova