6
QUEENS WEEKLY, APRIL 26, 2020
Cruz defends undocumented workers
BY KARMINA L. FONSECA
As a representative of
the neighborhoods most affected
by the coronavirus
in the country and world,
Queens Assemblywoman
Catalina Cruz knows it’s
crucial to cover the needs
of undocumented workers
to fight the negative
effects of the pandemic.
“I think that as a community,
as a state, as a country,
we must recognize that
without many of those workers
we would be doing worse.
Those are the workers who
are in the supermarkets, in
the restaurants, and we are
not recognizing their value,”
said the assemblywoman for
the 39th district, which covers
Jackson Heights, Corona
and Elmhurst. “I think if we
are going to call ourselves a
sanctuary city, we have to
wear the pants and protect
immigrants the way they
deserve.”
Cruz is convinced that
at the federal level, aid will
be unavailable, so her office
is advocating so certain resources
are not erased from
the budget, including legal
services for immigrants:
“Now that people are dying
they also want to deport
them,” she said.
According to a statement
from the NYC Mayor’s Office
of Immigrant Affairs, among
the 1 million essential workers
who are on the frontlines
of the COVID-19 pandemic
— delivery workers, EMS
staff, drivers, health care
personnel and more — half
are immigrants.
New York City is home to
3.1 million immigrants, who
comprise about 37 percent
of the city’s population and
44 percent of its workforce
— including approximately
360,000 undocumented workers
and 48,000 undocumented
business owners. Also,
over a third of NYC’s undocumented
workforce is lowincome,
is ineligible for most
safety net assistance, and
has been left behind by federal
stimulus packages because
of their documentation
status.
“We have a president
who doesn’t even recognize
a pandemic until it’s too late.
We have a governor who has
done a lot for the state during
the emergency but who
has put certain limitations,”
Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz delivers a bag of food at her office located at 41-40 Junction
Blvd. in Corona. Photo courtesy of World Central Kitchen
Cruz stressed. “For example,
we could have raised $40
billion in the budget if we
had been willing to put more
taxes on the wealthy in this
state.”
Step up the help
Recently, Governor Andrew
Cuomo and Mayor Bill
de Blasio were called out by
Brooklyn Council Member
Carlos Menchaca, chair of
the Council’s Committee on
Immigration, to “step up”
and provide undocumented
workers immediate cash relief
similar to what the state
of California is doing. Sentiment
echoed by the pro-immigrant
organization, Make
the Road NY.
“It is frankly outrageous
that Governor Cuomo refuses
to meet the urgent needs of
immigrant New Yorkers. As
our community members are
disproportionately affected
by this crisis and left out of
the government’s relief, the
governor continues to insist
on austerity economics,
protecting the billionaires
from taxes while leaving immigrants
on the front lines
at grave risk of hunger, illness
and death,” said in a
statement Javier H. Valdes,
co-executive director of the
nonprofit organization.
To counter this, Mayor
de Blasio announced a partnership
with Open Society
Foundations to establish the
New York City COVID-19
Immigrant Emergency Relief
program, to ensure all
New Yorkers, regardless of
immigration status, are included
in citywide COVID-19
response and relief efforts.
This $20 million donation
marks an essential step to
provide emergency monetary
relief to immigrant workers
and their families, who
have largely been excluded
from federal COVID-19 relief
programs.
“Immigrants are the
heart of this city — they are
our friends, neighbors and
colleagues,” said Mayor Bill
de Blasio. “This crisis has
shown it is now more important
than ever for New Yorkers
to look out for each other.
I want to thank the Open
Society Foundations for partnering
with us to ensure that
all New Yorkers, regardless
of their documentation status,
can get the support they
need.”
Needed services for
the community
Assemblywoman Cruz’s
office, meanwhile, is offering
various services to the
community, including doubling
as a community pantry.
“One of the things we did
is turned our office into a
community pantry,” Cruz
said. “We are trying to supply
the basic needs for many
people who do not qualify
for other types of aid. There
has been so much need that
several days we have run
out of food and left a line
of people — it is a neighborhood
with many needs,
and very few resources
for people who do not have
papers.”
Also, her office is helping
people determine what services
they qualify for. “You
talk to them by phone, you
listen to their needs, connect
them and often help apply
for these services,” she
said.
As the first former
DREAMer elected to the
New York Assembly, the
Colombian legislator also
keeps in mind the young
and undocumented that
are part of the Deferred Action
for Childhood Arrivals
(DACA) program, who are
currently awaiting the Supreme
Court’s decision to
renew their legal status in
the country.
“In the midst of this pandemic,
the Supreme Court
should make a decision
that can give so many the
possibility to work. Many
are doctors, nurses, people
who are helping to save this
country. There is nervousness
and many expectations
to see what will happen with
this decision. Meanwhile we
are guiding many of them to
resources so they can renew
their DACA regardless of
what will happen with the
Supreme Court,” said the
assemblywoman.
Classifieds@schnepsmedia.com
MEDICAL HELP WANTED
������������������
������������������������
With or Without HHA, up to
$19.09/hour (includes benefits,
certain conditions apply)
Call
Now!
646-799-6062, 646-832-7647
646-660-0530
Address: 110 W. 34th St., Suite 1207
New York, New York 10001
Transportation: Subway: N,Q,R,B,F,D,W,M
Get off at 34th St., between 7th Ave. & Broadway.
PERSONALS
WHITE JEWISH
MALE 70
300 lbs. Looking
to meet an open
minded woman. If
interested please call
718-217-9788
HERE'S MY CARD
CNJ Plumbing Inc.
24/7 Emergency Service
FREE
Estimates
Licensed
& Insured.
• Plumbing Repairs
• Gas Repairs & Filing w/ DOB
• Hot Water Heater Repairs & Installation
• Boiler Repairs & Installation
• Sewer & Drain Cleaning
• Boiler Inspection
• Drain Video Inspection
Residential & Commercial
917-837-5771
www.cnjplumbinginc.com LIC. #2071
6QUEENS WEEKLY, APR.
26, 2020 • TIMESLEDGER.
COM6QUEENS WEEKLY, APR.
26, 2020
SAVE
MONEY
BY SHOPPING
IN OUR
CLASSIFIEDS
We’ve Got
All The
Boroughs
Covered
718.260.2555
/www.cnjplumbinginc.com
/www.cnjplumbinginc.com
link
link
