Queens Community House Celebrates Historic NYC Vote to Give Nearly One Million Noncitizens Voting Rights in Local Elections
Queens Community House (QCH) joined elected officials, the New York Immigration Coalition, United Neighborhood Houses, and the Our City, Our Vote Coalition at City Hall to celebrate the historic vote to enfranchise nearly one million immigrant New Yorkers.
 
The New York City Council passed the Our City, Our Vote bill (Intro 1867) with 33 members voting in favor, 14 against, and two abstentions. The bill will expand municipal voting rights for green card holders and individuals with work authorization.
 
After the vote, New York City becomes the largest city in the United States to allow immigrants to vote in their city elections.
 
“With the passing of this bill, New York is setting an example of inclusion and progress for other cities and communities around the country and the world,” said Julieta Larsen, QCH Community Engagement Coordinator. “This will affect at least a quarter of a million people just in the Queens communities we serve alone.”
The historic vote comes after years of effort. “QCH has been actively involved in this campaign for 13 years,” said Ben Thomases, QCH Executive Director. “Many of our neighbors in the communities we serve have been unable to vote on policies affecting their daily lives despite contributing to the city’s economic, cultural, and social life. We are happy to have supported this important expansion of our city's democracy."

QCH Outreach Worker Alma Reyes has been involved in the campaign for a few years. “As someone who waited 28 years before finally being able to vote last November after becoming a citizen, I know what it’s like to be disenfranchised while contributing with taxes and supporting the city’s economy,” said Reyes.

Check out some of the great QCH features in recent news coverage related to Intro 1867:
2021 - What A Year It's Been

As you know, when COVID-19 first struck, the central Queens communities we serve were at the epidemic's epicenter and QCH pivoted to respond to those families in greatest need. Our meal service to homebound seniors grew by half, and our two food pantries expanded tenfold. As our programs reopened one by one in 2021, QCH worked to support the more than 25,000 children, youth, adults, and older adults who rely on our services each year to recovery from the impact of the pandemic.

Here are some 2021 QCH highlights:
“Holidays during COVID-19 have been difficult for many of the individuals and families we serve, for various reasons – isolation, need for food, loss of a loved one, financial troubles,” said QCH Executive Director Ben Thomases. “This collaboration with Meyhem Lauren and Timberland comes at a crucial time for the community, addressing essential needs and providing much-needed support during the holidays.”

“I always feel confident that with any type of funding that we give them, [QCH] uses it for the best purposes possible for the community,” Councilman Daniel Dromm said. “As an elected official, that to me is very comforting and it’s great to know that we have QCH here, not only in Forest Hills, but in many neighborhoods across the borough of Queens."

Congresswoman Grace Meng, QCH Executive Director Ben Thomases, the YouthBuild program, and members of the Pomonok community were in attendance for the Grand Opening of the Pomonok Food Exchange Pantry. "A 24/7 food pantry... Proud to have secured funding for this important @USDOL youth program in my district. Bravo! @QCHnyc," congresswoman Meng tweeted. The pantry now serves as an emergency food service for the community!

Despite the obstacles that have come with this year’s SYEP launch, QCH looked forward to seeing young people engaged in a program that provides work experience and workforce readiness opportunities. “This has been a challenging time for young people looking for opportunities to grow, so we need to reinforce the importance of helping the youth develop social, civic, and leadership skills to prepare them for the future, and SYEP is a great way to do that,” said Alexandria Sumpter-Delves, Division Director of Youth Workforce of QCH.

With five fully funded older adult centers (two of which are being fully funded for the first time), QCH looks forward to implementing its enhanced models in response to the needs and wants of older adults across the borough. "We will be able to continue to provide critical programs and services for older adults such as providing meals and case assistance, while enhancing our health, wellness, and educational/recreational offerings," said Nicole Vaughn-Robinson, QCH Deputy Director of Senior Services. 

As we look ahead to the coming year, QCH is eager to continue to support Queens residents, to help families get back on their feet, and to provide vital services for some of our most vulnerable neighbors.
Queens Community House provides individuals and families with the tools to enrich their lives and build healthy, inclusive communities.