Table Talk Online: Help More New Yorkers Vote! – July 29, 2020

Thanks to all who joined us on Wednesday, July 29th for a discussion with Our City, Our Vote (OCOV) campaign leaders, including New York City Council Member Ydanis RodríguezTheresa Thanjan of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC); and Yafa Dias of the Arab American Association of NY (AAANY). The discussion was moderated by WCC lifetime member Grace Angela Henry.

OCOV aims to expand municipal voting rights so that legal permanent residents and those with work authorization can vote in local elections in New York City. Over 900,000 New Yorkers who live legally in the city cannot vote in local elections because of their citizenship status. These individuals live, work, and pay taxes in our city, but are not afforded the right to weigh in on its future by casting a ballot.

“There’s a disconnection between what we advocate for the national level, and what we can do on the city level. This is about giving a voice to people who pay taxes. This is about addressing taxation without representation.” – Council Member Ydanis Rodríguez