Advocating for equitable New York legislative districts for Afro & Indo-Caribbean communities.
Redistricting Task Force
Caribbean Equality Project is a proud coalition member of the Asian Pacific American Voting and Organizing to Increase Civic Engagement’s (APA VOICE) Redistricting Task Force. In 2021, the organization joined the APA VOICE coalition to ensure that the interests of Indo and Afro-Caribbean immigrants are centered in the NYC City Council districts. In 2010, advocates rallied for Richmond Hill/ South Ozone Park to be united into one council district. 10 years later, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, and South Ozone Park continue to be divided into 3 Council Districts (Council Districts 28- Adams, 29- Schulman, and 32- Ariola).
Why is NYC Council Redistricting important?
The Caribbean Equality Project is committed to continuing to build political power in NYC and Redistricting is one way for us to do so. For the next 10 years, redistricting will impact access to COVID-19 relief, funding for our schools, fair immigration policy, support for small businesses, nonprofit services, and so much more. Caribbean immigrants (documented and undocumented), Caribbean-Americans, and LGBTQ+ people must be visible and active in this process to ensure our concerns are not ignored.
NYC Council Redistricting Impacts:
Who runs to represent the district
Which voters live in the district
Who gets elected that will make decisions important to our community
Whether this elected official will respond to or ignore our community needs
The New York City Districting Commission
The City Charter requires the City Council and the mayor to appoint an independent Districting Commission every 10 years, following the decennial census. The process ensures council districts continue to reflect population and demographic changes. After the commission is constituted, commission members and their staff meet to review all relevant laws, regulations, and the most recent census data. After a series of public hearings and meetings, the commission develops a final plan, which must be submitted to the City Council. The commission—comprised of seven members appointed by the mayor and eight members appointed by the City Council—are tasked with redrawing council district boundaries in advance of City Council elections.
Redistricting Mobilization at City Hall 2022
NYC Redistricting Press Conference–Richmond Hill, Queens 2022CEP & The Redistricting Task Force
CEP founder and Executive Director, Mohamed Q. Amin, represented the Caribbean Equality Project for the launch of the APA Voice’s Redistricting Task Force Campaign for City Council Redistricting with Five Community Briefings in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. The Launch was held on April 5, 2022, on the steps of City Hall.
“Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park are home to both the largest South Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities in Queens, the fastest-growing immigrant population in New York City. These communities of interest are unjustly divided into 3 City Council districts: 28, 29, and 32. These district lines have diluted our political power, vote, and voice for decades. In 2020, at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Richmond hill had the highest positivity rate in NYC. Yet, the city failed to protect our community, neighbors, and loved ones. Our families died due to a lack of culturally-responsive COVID-19 resources, access to testing and vaccination, and language accessibility. From health disparities, immigration, and food insecurity to housing, economic disadvantages, and political disenfranchisement, our elected officials have neglected Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park.” — Mohamed Q. Amin
Town Hall: Mobilizing for City Council Redistricting in Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park
On Wednesday, May 11, 2022, APA Voice, South Queens Women's March, Caribbean Equality Project, and Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) held a town hall discussion focused on Mobilizing for City Council Redistricting in Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park.
New York State and New York City Redistricting Community Briefing and Education:
Learn how Asian Americans gained power in the 2020 redistricting cycle for congressional and state districts
Our community of interest in Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park is currently divided into two City Council Districts. Learn how YOU can be involved to keep us whole—not divided!
Fair redistricting allows our communities to fight for our share of funding for community-based services, language access, better public safety, and more!
Persons who signed up to speak were permitted to do so and allotted a total of 2 minutes so as to ensure effective timekeeping. No electioneering or political campaigning was allowed at the event and all remarks given were to specifically address City Council redistricting.