New York City Mayor Eric Adams said this weekend in a statement that he supports a bill to allow some 800,000 “legal, non-citizen residents” to vote in local elections, beginning in 2023.
Undocumented immigrants will not be able to cast ballots in local polls under the new law.
The bill does not affect state or federal elections.
“I believe that New Yorkers should have a say in their government, which is why I have and will continue to support this important legislation,” Adams said Saturday.
“While I initially had some concerns about one aspect of the bill, I had a productive dialogue with my colleagues in government that put those concerns at ease. I believe allowing the legislation to be enacted is by far the best choice, and look forward to bringing millions more into the democratic process,” he added.
The “Our City, Our Vote” measure was passed this past December (2021) by the New York City Council, granting green card holders and those whose status has been deferred, the right to vote for mayor, comptroller, public advocate, borough president, council member and local ballot initiatives.
Adams also announced two controversial appointments to his administration this weekend: former NYPD Chief of Department Phillip Banks was named as deputy mayor for public safety. Banks resigned from the department around eight years ago under a cloud of suspicion over allegations of corruption.
“I need a partner in government who understands what it takes to keep New Yorkers safe,” Adams said.
The mayor’s younger brother, Bernard Adams, was named as a deputy police commissioner. The younger Adams, a former NYPD sergeant, will report to the city’s new police commissioner, Keechant Sewall. But the move has raised both ethical and legal questions about whether there is a conflict of interest in such a situation.