Gearity Dec 2016
Dec 2016
Recently, the Board of Trustees unanimously passed two resolutions that reach beyond the scope of municipal government duties. From time to time, the Village Board considers resolutions that serve to affirm the values of our community, and sometimes, to encourage legislators at higher levels of government to take action that will benefit Village residents.
The Ossining Village Board is fortunate to have a diverse representation of our community in elected office, each of us contributing insights into the needs of our residents. Early this fall, Trustee Manuel Quezada proposed to the Board the Resolution in Support of Issuing Driver’s Licenses to NYS Residents regardless of Immigration Status. In the wake of a national election marked by incendiary anti-immigrant rhetoric, he renewed his recommendation that we consider this proposal. This Board felt it was important to pass a resolution both affirming our values and encouraging State government to take action in a tangible way that will improve roadway safety for all drivers. Immigration laws are determined and implemented by the federal government. Driver’s license regulations are determined and implemented by state government. The Village of Ossining is the first municipality in Westchester to pass a resolution of this kind. We encourage our fellow elected officials throughout the County to join us in calling on NYS legislators and Governor Cuomo to follow the lead of a dozen other states, and issue driver’s licenses to NYS residents regardless of immigration status.
Similarly, Trustee John Codman proposed the Resolution Condemning Violence and Hate Speech and Expressing Solidarity with Those Targeted for Their Ethnicity, Race or Religion. At a moment in our nation when powerful national voices are calling for a registry of Muslims, and suggesting individuals should be banned from our country because of their religion, the Board passed this resolution to affirm the Village of Ossining’s values of, “a pluralistic society, the beauty of a culture composed of multiple cultures, and the inalienable right of every person to live and practice their faith without fear.”