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Emgage New York – Policy & Advocacy

EMGAGE NEW YORK METRO POLICY & ADVOCACY

Through our Emgage Action New York Metro chapter, we are here to provide you updates in real-time on our legislative priorities, engagement with the New York State (NYS), New York City (NYC) and New Jersey Governments regarding the initiatives most important to our community, advocacy efforts, as well as the most crucial legislation we’re tracking. 

We are here to be your one stop shop to stay up-to-date on the multitude of legislative actions taking place in the NYS, NYC, and NJ Governments, while letting you know how YOU can stay politically engaged.

New York Metro Legislative Values:

  1. Halal food in New York State (NYS)
  2. Eid as a holiday in NYS
  3. Disparity studies on Arab Americans in NYS and New York City (NYC)
  4. School curriculum in NYC that focuses on religious diversity

Halal Food in NYS

School Curriculum in NYC on Religious Diversity

Eid as a Holiday in NYS

Disparity Studies on Arab Americans in NYS and NYC

SUPPORTING BILLS IN PROGRESS:

UPDATED: 03/31/2023

HALAL FOOD IN SCHOOLS

NY A 2449: Halal Food in Public Schools (Only city school districts with +15% Muslim population)
10%

Last Action: On Jan. 26, 2023, bill referred to Assembly Committee on Education

A 2449 title: Requires certain public schools to provide Halal food during lunch

Summary: Amends the education law by requiring all cities or counties that have a population of one million or more to provide Halal food to any student who has a dietary restriction or requirement, at no cost. This will only apply to city school districts that have a Muslim population of fifteen percent or more. The “Muslim population” shall include persons, adults and children, who are fully or partially of Muslim descent, include all those persons and ethnic groups identified as Muslim by the United States census bureau. 

Primary Sponsors: Charles Fall (D)

DIVERSITY IN SCHOOLS

NYC Council Res 476: Provide all grade levels with curriculum focusing on religious diversity
10%

Last Action: On Feb. 2, 2023, this Resolution was referred to Comm by Council to the Committee on Education

NYC Council Res 476 title: NYC Dept of Education to consult with faith-based organizations to develop and provide all grade levels with a curriculum that focuses on religious diversity.

Summary: NYC Department of Education must consult with faith-based organizations to develop and provide:

  1. All grade levels with a curriculum that focuses on religious diversity
  2. Professional development focused on religious diversity for teachers, staff, and administrators
  3. Accurate classification of hate crimes in annual school reports and immediate notification and full disclosure to parents of hate crime statistics
  4. Actions to condemn bullying and harassment based on religious clothing, food requirements, and the need for prayer space and time year round

Primary Sponsors: Shahana K. Hanif (D), Pierina Ana Sanchez (D), Tiffany Cabán (D), Shekar Krishnan (D), Kalman Yeger (D), Crystal Hudson (D), Oswald Feliz (D), Shaun Abreu (D), Kristin Richardson Jordan (D), Alexa Avilés (D), Kevin C. Riley (D)

OPPOSING BILLS IN PROGRESS:

UPDATED: 03/31/2023

VOTING RIGHTS

NJ A 3820: Prohibits unaffiliated mail-in voters from receiving mail-in ballots
SIGNED INTO LAW 100%

Last Action: enacted on July 28, 2022.

A 3820 title/summary: Prohibits unaffiliated mail-in voters from receiving mail-in ballot for primary election; requires election officials to provide such voters certain notices; prohibits mail-in ballot envelopes from containing visible political affiliation or designation for certain elections.

Primary Sponsors: Rob Karabinchak (D), Sadaf Jaffer (D), Sterley Stanley (D), Joe Cryan (D), Vin Gopal (D)

Percentages based on the following chronological benchmarks for a bill: filed (10%), heard in committee (20%), passed out of committee (30%), passed in one house of state legislature (60%), passed in both houses of state legislature (90%), and signed into law (100%).

YOU CAN TAKE ACTION

YOU CAN TAKE ACTION

NJ A3820/S2869 – an undemocratic law prohibiting 2.4M unaffiliated and/or independent voters in New Jersey from receiving mail-in ballots, receiving instead a form to declare their party affiliation. This law presents a major roadblock to exercising one’s civic duty.