ACTS-CNY

Public Officials and Candidates were asked to answer “yes” or “no” to our questions. As it turned out, all they could say and said was: “YES.” (Video coming soon…)

Health Care Task Force

Ask to Congressman Dan Maffei: “Will you continue to provide leadership for national health care reform and will you vote for a final reconciled bill that includes a robust Medicare-like public option and in which the responsibilities for financing health care are arrived at in a fair and just approach?”

Congressman Maffei: YES

Justice Task Force Action Outline

Background: We are calling on the Sheriff’s Office to stop the public disclosure of CHAIRS reports and return to the original intent of CHAIRS as an officer intelligence tool. We have met with Sheriff Walsh, and his position is that the Sheriff’s Office is providing a public service by disclosing CHAIRS reports. However, this system actually does a disservice to many of our community members who have errors on their CHAIRS reports. And the safety of everyone in our community is compromised when people are unable to obtain employment or housing.

County Legislator Richard Lesniak, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, has agreed to add this issue to the Public Safety Committee agenda. We will be presenting our concerns about the public disclosure of CHAIRS reports on Tuesday, December 8 at 9:00am.

Ask to County Executive Joanie Mahoney: “Will you meet with ACTS before the December 8 County Legislature Public Safety Committee meeting?”

County Executive Mahoney: YES

Civil Rights for Immigrants Action Outline

Background: There is a piece of legislation right now that can help Freddie, Bambi, and others like them. It is called H.R. 182, also known as the Child Citizen Protection Act and it would allow judges the discretion to stop the deportation of parents of US citizen children, children like Daniel and Joel.

Ask to Congressman Maffei: “Will you co-sponsor, vote for, and fight for the inclusion of HR.182 in any comprehensive immigration reform package that comes before Congress?

Congressman Maffei: YES

Background: In 2001, the Syracuse Common Council passed an ordinance calling on the chief of police to develop policies to identify and prevent racial profiling by police officers. In 2003, the Council passed a resolution urging the Police Department to refrain from inquiring about the immigration status of individuals unless there is a clear threat to public safety.

We need more than resolutions, however. We need a clear policy. We want a policy that makes clear that the residents of Syracuse will not be stopped and questioned simply for driving, walking, or shopping while Black, Latino, or any other color.

We want a policy that ensures that the people in our community will not be asked for their immigration papers in conjunction with a simple traffic stop, while boarding the bus or train, or simply for walking down the street. Unless there is a threat to the community, it is none of your business.

Ask to Candidates for Mayor (Otis Jennings, Steve Kimatian, and Stephanie Miner) and Common Council President (Van Robinson): “Will you, if elected, initiate a public dialogue in the first 60 days after your election with the purpose of creating such a policy? In addition, will you make sure that throughout your term there is an annual examination of the racial and ethnic profiling data gathered by the Syracuse Police Department?

Candidates for Mayor and Common Council President: YES

Youth Task Force Action Outline

Ask to Syracuse City School District Superintendent Dan Lowengard: “Will you include representatives from the ACTS Clergy Caucus, Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, and the Citywide Coalition of United Pastors on the Say Yes Community Advisory Council so that they can participate in the leadership of the local Say Yes to Education efforts?”

Superintendent Lowengard: YES

Economic Development & Jobs Task Force Action Outline

Background: We want to meet with Timothy Gilchrist, who as Senior Advisor for Infrastructure and Transportation leads the New York State Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Cabinet. This Cabinet has been established to manage the development of State and local infrastructure projects financed through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act….

Ask to Governor’s Regional Representative Dan Young: “Mr. Young, as Gov. Paterson’s Regional Representative, will you facilitate a meeting with ACTS and our allies within one month with Mr. Gilchrist with the purpose to discuss local community oversight of stimulus funds?”

Governor’s Regional Representative Dan Young: YES

Ask to Candidates for Mayor for the City of Syracuse: “Will you, if elected, meet with ACTS at least every quarter to discuss development projects in our City?”

Candidates for Mayor: YES

Food Access Action Outline

Asks to Governor’s Regional Representative Dan Young:

“Will you, as Governor Paterson’s representative, facilitate a meeting for ACTS and our allies-within one month-with Bob McNary and or Steve McGratten to discuss the State’s new Healthy Foods/Healthy Community Initiative-as we seek resources to assist in developing a full-service grocery store in the Southside?”

“Finally, we understand the Governor was unable to join us today. We understand, however, that Governor Paterson will meet with ACTS and we want to make it public…Will Governor Paterson pledge to meet with ACTS?”

Governor’s Regional Representative Dan Young: YES (to both questions)

Asks to Mayoral Candidates:

“Will you, if elected, work to have a signed agreement-by June 2010-for a full-service grocery store on the Southside of Syracuse?”

“Will you, if elected, work with ACTS, our allies, and the Common Council, and make it a priority to create a comprehensive plan for healthy food access in the Southside and ALL sides of Syracuse?”

Mayoral Candidates: YES (to both questions)