Majority Leader John Rubbo and Yonkers City Clerk Vincent Spano are proud to announce the adoption of real-time translation services for all City Council meetings. The Yonkers City Council is the first in New York State to utilize this technology to ensure equitable access to civic participation for all residents, regardless of their primary language.
Yonkers is a melting pot of cultures and languages, with many residents speaking languages other than English as their first language. To bridge this communication gap and foster greater inclusivity, the City Council has partnered with Wordly, a leading provider of real-time translation services offering support for over 50 different languages.
“Yonkers is a city that thrives on its diversity, and it is crucial that all voices are heard,” said Majority Leader John Rubbo. “By implementing real-time translation services, we are breaking down language barriers and empowering every resident to engage meaningfully in the democratic process.”
With Wordly’s cutting-edge technology, residents viewing council meetings will have access to instant translations of proceedings, ensuring that language is no longer a barrier to participation. Whether speaking Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Mandarin, or any of the numerous languages spoken in our vibrant community, residents can now fully understand and engage with the discussions taking place in the City Council Chambers.
City Clerk Vincent Spano said, “At the Office of the City Clerk, our priority is to ensure that all residents of Yonkers have access to the services and information they need, regardless of the language they speak. The introduction of real-time translation services for City Council meetings is a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to make local government more inclusive and accessible. We are committed to providing services that can be utilized by all of our residents, and this initiative is a testament to that commitment. Thank you to Majority Leader Rubbo for securing the necessary funds needed to see this project through.”
City Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy stated, “This City Council is committed to improving communication with our constituents. Using Wordly AI Translations, we hope to break through language barriers and reach more communities in Yonkers.”
This project reflects the Yonkers City Council’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in governance. By embracing technology to promote linguistic diversity, the Council aims to strengthen community engagement and representation, fostering a more vibrant and inclusive democracy.
“We are thrilled to work with the City of Yonkers, NY on this groundbreaking initiative. Language should never be a barrier to civic participation, and we are proud that our technology is helping to make that ideal a reality,” said Lakshman Rathnam, CEO of Wordly.
The implementation of real-time translation services is set to begin immediately, with the first fully translated council meeting scheduled for September 17, 2024. Majority Leader Rubbo and City Clerk Spano encourage all residents to take advantage of this innovative service and actively participate in Yonkers government.
