L.L. 1989/052
Enactment date: 7/18/1989
Int. No. 1072-A
By Council Members Alter and Michels; also Council Members Castaneira-Colon, Crispino, Dryfoos, Foster, Friedlander, McCaffrey, Messinger, Pinkett, Eisland and Dear
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting discrimination based on alienage or citizenship status
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section one. Declaration of legislative intent and findings. New York City is currently home to more than one million aliens. These individuals make a unique contribution to the stimulating economic and cultural diversity which is one of the City's primary features. As a city of immigrants, New York City has a special obligation to assist those who, like most of our ancestors, have come to our country seeking a better way of life. Even under the best of circumstances, newcomers to this country find it difficult to obtain housing, employment and other necessities. However, this difficulty is compounded when landlords, employers or other persons practice discrimination against aliens. Aliens are also especially vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous entrepreneurs in many areas of life. The entire City suffers when a substantial part of its population lacks adequate housing, insurance coverage, health care or education.
Recent changes in federal immigration law, intended in part to discourage the entry of undocumented aliens into the United States, have aroused fears among immigrants of a growing bias within the community against those who may look or sound foreign. It has come to the City's attention that such people have been asked to document their citizenship status when such documentation was not required by law. Inquiries of this nature indicate that not only aliens, but those suspected of being aliens, face the threat of discrimination. Such intolerance harms the City and aggravates the difficult adjustment of American life which every newcomer must make.
It is the intent of the Council to prevent aliens from being treated unfairly in housing, employment and other areas of life. This law prohibits discrimination against aliens unless such prohibition is contrary to Federal, State or City law. Victims of alienage-based discrimination will have recourse to the City Commission on Human Rights. Unless otherwise mandated by law, all aliens are entitled to and will be guaranteed equal treatment. Nothing in this local law is intended to or shall have the effect of contradicting the requirements of federal law concerning the employment and provision of benefits to aliens.
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[Consolidated provisions are not included in this Appendix A]
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§ 5. This local law shall take effect immediately.