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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 16, 2022
Contact: WestchesterAsianAmericanDems@gmail.com

 

WESTCHESTER ASIAN AMERICAN DEMOCRATS CALL ON STATE LAWMAKERS TO FULLY FUND AAPI EQUITY PROPOSAL

In response to brutal attack of Asian American Yonkers woman, local community leaders and allies denounce hate, urge policy action

 

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK – In response to the violent hate crime attack of a 67-year-old Asian American Yonkers woman Friday, the Westchester Asian American Democrats (WAAD) called on state lawmakers to support the entire $64.5 million New York State AAPI Equity Budget currently in negotiations in Albany. The pioneering proposal, developed by more than 50 statewide AAPI organizations, is the most significant action in the United States to date in addressing the horrific surge in anti-Asian hate, the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19, and the historically inequitable underfunding of New York’s AAPI communities, which face the highest rates of poverty, housing insecurity and language inaccessibility.

 

The WAAD executive board sent a letter Monday to the 13 Democratic members of the Westchester New York State delegation asking for their unified weight behind the funding in their one-house resolutions. At a Yonkers press conference Tuesday where WAAD members joined community leaders and local elected officials to condemn hate crimes against the AAPI community, WAAD leaders pointed out that the money allocated so far is simply not enough and called on the governor and the state legislature for the proposal's full $64.5 million in funding. The state budget is to be finalized by March 31.

 

“We stand united against hate and call for change. We must refuse to accept the premise that public safety for the Asian American community conflicts with a progressive vision for safety, “ said Lisa Do Hofflich, WAAD Chair. “That’s why we are calling on our state elected leaders to ensure that the AAPI Equity Budget will remain in this year’s final state budget.”

 

“Amid continual trauma our community is facing,...we need commensurate support of resources and actions of our policy makers,” said Marjorie Hsu, WAAD executive board member speaking on behalf of the Asian American Federation where she’s also Board Chair. “While we appreciate the good thoughts and prayers, our community is hurting. The most vulnerable members of our community need us to put stronger protocols in place.”

 

“We need to come together with our fellow Asian Americans across Westchester, across New York State and ensure that government action steps forth and ensures that we are no longer afraid of walking into our own homes,” said David Imamura, WAAD 1st Vice Chair.

 

Joining WAAD members were the Consul General of the Philippines Elmer Cato, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates Hudson Valley-Westchester chapter’s Bill Kaung, Yonkers NAACP’s Kisha Skipper, U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, County Legislator Chris Johnson, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and the entire Yonkers City Council.

 

The next WAAD meeting will be held virtually Tuesday, April 5th with guest speaker State Senator John Liu, who is leading the budget negotiations in the Senate for the AAPI Equity Budget.

 

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WestchesterAsianAmericanDems@gmail.com
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WAADemocrats.org
WESTCHESTER ASIAN AMERICAN DEMOCRATS
Westchester County, New York

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