Support Reforms & Empowerment
The Yonkers City Democratic Committee announced that we stand in solidarity with our elected leaders including Congressman Elliott Engel, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins, Senator Shelley Mayer, Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow, Assemblyman Nader Sayegh, County Executive George Latimer, Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, County Legislator Majority Whip Chris Johnson, County Legislator David Tubiolo, County Legislator Ruth Walter and County Legislator Jose Alvarado, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, Yonkers City Council President Mike Khader, Majority Leader Councilwoman Corazon Pineda Isaacs, Councilwoman Shanae Williams, Councilwoman Tasha Diaz and Councilman John Rubbo in supporting the #BLACK LIVES MATTER principles of racial justice, criminal justice reform and fighting police brutality.
The truth is if you are Black in this country, you have faced racism.
We support Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins in advancing major policing reforms including the repeal of 50-a and other important bills to help implement real improvements to law enforcement efforts in New York. We thank Governor Cuomo for signing the historic passage of the antiracism, anti-police violence bills passed this week by the NYS legislature. The horrific murder of George Floyd has shed more light on what being black in America means. The implementation of these policing reforms will help the healing process for minority communities that have been disproportionately targeted and will facilitate better partnerships between law enforcement and the New Yorkers they serve.
Our Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano is closing in on an agreement that would bring police body cameras to the city after residents staged protests over police brutality and George Floyd’s death. He said Yonkers is working on some last-minute details with the police union and the U.S. Department of Justice. Spano said. “The public wants reform and it’s our obligation to make sure that happens and that’s what we are doing.” The program is expected to start with a 90-day trial that would outfit the city’s approximately 400 patrol officers with body cameras.
As Democrats, we believe in fighting for a better, fairer, and brighter future for every American by rolling up our sleeves, empowering grassroots voters, staying united while calling for change. We commit to using our influence and power to actively support qualified candidates who view society through the lens of equity to ensure we undo systemic racism.
We will continue to participate in Black Lives Matter rallies, and stand alongside elected leaders of all races and backgrounds to take action to fight racism and curb police brutality. These are first steps towards acknowledging this problem.
We commit to a focus on self-reflection, and active engagement with communities of color, in order to bring more people into decision making positions. By these actions we become a more vibrant party that helps eradicate injustice out of our justice system, and put us on the path to equality.
