200,000 Voices in 2000

Earlier this year, the National Coalition for Haitian Rights teamed up with other immigrant organizations in New York State to encourage at least 200,000 new citizens and their families who are eligible to vote to become educated on the many issues that are vital to their communities and to the future of New York State, and to cast informed votes in the November 7, 2000 national, state and local elections. Christened 200,000 in 2000, the campaign has been coordinated by the New York Immigration Coalition.

Why 200,000 in 2000?

The vitality of New York State in the 21st century is tied to the vitality and well-being of its newcomer communities.  These communities have been battered in recent years by unjust policies that deprive them of their rights and of access to services that their tax dollars help support for others.  While many immigrant families have specific concerns about policies such as these, they also share concerns of other New Yorkers when it comes to issues like the quality of public schools, the availability of good jobs, and the quality and affordability of health care and housing. By becoming more deeply informed about these issues and how they are affected by decisions made at the different levels of government, and by joining forces across diverse ethnic and nationality groups, newcomer communities will be positioned to use the democratic process to make government more responsive to the needs of all New  Yorkers.   The potential benefits of a successful 200,000 in 2000 Campaign -- just immigrations policies, better jobs, good schools, affordable health care, clean and safe neighborhoods -- will be enjoyed for years to come, not only by immigrant communities but by everyone in New York State.

Forums

NCHR has coordinated five community education forums on topics such as: Introduction to U.S. Democracy, Public Education Reform, Health Care Access, Housing Issues and Immigration Law.  These forums will enable the Haitian community to understand how their involvement in civic affairs can strengthen life in our communities.

Pledging

When Naturalized citizens and their family members pledge, they make a commitment to:

• learn about the political process and the offices up for elections.
• learn about key issues facing their community.
• learn about the positions of the different parties and candidates.
• register to vote, if eligible, and to
• vote on November 7, 2000.

Policies Which Affect Immigrants

English for Speakers of Others Languages (ESOL) is a funded program funded by the government to teach immigrants to speak English.  Learning English is the key to immigrant advancement.  As the number of immigrants entering New York grows, the current funding is not enough.  Many immigrants' desire to learn English is stifled by the shortage of classes due to lack of funding.  Current levels of ESOL funding reach less than 15% of the needy populations.

Family Health Plus and Medicaid are programs for families who have low income or are poor.  Prior to welfare reform legislation in 1996, all legal immigrants who had low income or were poor were eligible for full Medicaid coverage like all other New York residents.  The 1996 federal welfare law changed the rules and limited free health care to only emergency care for newly arriving legal immigrants.  Legal immigrants who have resettled in New York since August 1996 cannot receive Medicaid coverage or Family Health Plus until they become citizens.  Immigrants work hard and pay taxes like all Americans.  Just like other Americans, immigrants also get sick.  Immigrants deserve health care like all other Americans.

New York's new school standards creates an opportunity to improve the education of immigrant children, particularly for those children learning to speak English.  However, New York State requires that in order for immigrant and refugee students to graduate high school they must pass the English Language Arts Regents Exam, even if they have only been learning English for a short period of time.  Too many of these students have not gotten the help they need from their schools to pass the English Regents Exam and because of this will not graduate.  The state needs to provide more funding to schools so that these students get the additional help that was promised to them by the State Education Department when the new standards were adopted.

For additional information, contact:

Martine Caze
Project Leader
(212) 337-0005 ext. 10