Dear Governor Cuomo, Majority Leader Stewart Cousins, Speaker Carl Heastie, and Members of the New York State Legislature:
We, the undersigned businesses, fully support the Fund Excluded Workers Campaign, and the proposed legislation (S4543/A5421) to establish a $3.5 Billion fund for excluded workers with flexible requirements so that all excluded workers can access the fund.
As BIPOC business owners, businesses employing excluded and essential workers, and allied businesses, we have been witness to the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on our communities. We are farmers, restaurant owners, contractors and businesses that form the backbone of our local economies and collectively the economy of New York State. Our community members and employees who are undocumented and were recently released from incarceration or detention have gone over one year without any income assistance.
From Long Island to Albany to Buffalo our businesses and excluded workers have been cruelly battered by months of lost income for ourselves and our families. We have struggled to pay rent and medical bills, and to put food on our tables. Many undocumented workers have fought extraordinarily high COVID-19 infection rates without health insurance to cover their treatment. Neglecting us and our communities is abhorrent to every ethical standard we hold: such injustices cry out for a systemic response.
When excluded workers are employed, they do tough physical and emotional labor such as growing and harvesting our local crops, serving and maintaining our local restaurants, landscaping, and caring for our loved ones. As our economy has contracted, regulations have limited services, and businesses have closed (some for good) many workers have lost their jobs. While many workers throughout our state have relied on relief programs to weather the storm, workers excluded from Unemployment Insurance, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or any other sources of replacement income continue to struggle to make ends meet.
New York State does not need the federal government’s permission to provide aid to undocumented or any excluded workers: it can and must act now. We cannot wait on Washington to send federal aid, as not all federal money can be used towards programs supporting undocumented immigrants.
Our communities are on the frontlines of a global pandemic. We deserve and demand equal rights and equal relief. We fully support the Fund Excluded Workers Campaign and urge New York State to pass legislation (S4543/A5421) to establish a $3.5 billion fund for excluded workers.
Sincerely,
Adam Katzman, Autonomous Energies, Kingston
Alicia Coria, San Cristobal, Middletown
Allison Siegel, Cub Market, Bearsville
Alvaro Garcia, Garcia's Supermarket, Middletown
Bryan MacCormack, Bryan MacCormack Photography Hudson NY
Carla Gallardo-Perez, Lil Deb’s Oasis, Hudson NY
Cesar & Wendy Hernandez, La Imperial Bakery, New Windsor
Christian Lopez, Coyote Flaco, Hudson
Corina Tito, Vila Inca Peru, Newburgh
Cristofo, Pizzeria Mr. Chris, Newburgh
Emily Eder, Great Song Farm, Red Hook
Enrique Juarez, Enrique Juarez, Saugerties
Guillermo Maciel, Beth’s Farm Kitchen, Old Chatham NY
Harry Birckayer, Fieldwork Horticulture, Kinderhook NY
Irma, Carmelitas Party Supply, Newburgh
Israel Castellano, Alexa's Bakery Grocery, Newburgh
James Conrad, Co-Owner The Golden Notebook Bookstore Woodstock
Jenny Colibri, Express Latinos, Kingston, NY
Jody Bolluyt, Roxbury Farm CSA, Kinderhook NY
Jose Linares & Maria Nieto, Alondra's Cuisine, Middletown
Karen Adin Clark, Bop to Tottom, Kingston
Lauren Giambrone, Good Fight Herb Co, Hudson
Lea Haas, Garden Cafe, Woodstock
Leo Castellanos, Chatham Grill, Chatham NY
Lynne Michael, American Pie, Chatham NY
Madeline Henriquez, Poughkeepsie Farm Project, Poughkeepsie
Marcel Parrilla, Parrilla Design Studio, Kinderhook NY
Marco Ochoa, M&A Ochoa, Kingston, NY
Maria Mossa, Lupitas Bakery, Newburgh
Maria Romero, Casa Latina Hudson, Hudson NY
Maribel Aviles, Alejandras Mexican Food, Newburgh
Marisol Grande, XIMIL PERFECT DRYWALL INC, Middletown
Martha Suquet, Graylight Farm, East Chatham
Matthew Ballister, Sunfrost Farms, Woodstock
Megal Galeucia, Abode Farm, New Lebanon
Michael Molinski, Molinski Photography, NY
Michael Putos, Nolita Bakery and Cafe, Hudson
Michaela Hayes-Hodge, Rise & Root Farm, Chester
Miriam Goler, Full Circus Farm, Pine Plains
Mohammad Miah, Golden Grain Pizzeria, Hudson NY
Monica Berlinska-Glassen: Tea Shop, Woodstock
Olga Perez, Cafe Columbia, Newburgh
Rebecca Turmo: Jean Turmo Ltd, Woodstock
Roman Romero, R&J Mechanic, Middletown
Sam Iapoce, General Manager, Woodstock Meats, Woodstock
Scott Langley, Scott Langley Photography, Ghent
Stefanie Schachter, Joshua’s Restaurant, Woodstock
Tamsin Hollo, Liberty Street Vintage, Newburgh
Tanya, Botas Caborcas, Middletown,
Victoria Castellanos, Magdalena’s Restaurant, Valatie
