Open Letter to City Officials: “Our community is frightened”
By Martin Sanchez, SPHR, MA, JD
On February 2, Martin Sanchez sent the following letter to New Rochelle Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert; City Council members Martha Hanratty-Lopez, David Peters, and Shane Osinloye; and Westchester County Legislator Terry Clements. Mr. Sanchez is an attorney specializing in employee and labor relations. He has served on the New Rochelle Board of Education, the Human Rights Commission, the Board of the Boys and Girls Club, and the New Rochelle Public Library Foundation. To date, Mr. Sanchez says he has received no response.
Dear Martha et al,
I hope you are well. As you know, our comunidad is frightened these days by the overwhelming images they see of ICE destroying families in many places where we live and work. A casual walk in our schools, specially, Columbus and Isaac E Young, and the places we shop such as on Union Ave and Main Street, you get the sense that our people are frightened and full of anxiety – many are traumatized just by going to the laundromat or walking their children to school. Many are afraid to call the police if they need help. They are scared because of the ICE commercials on Univision and Telemundo. They need to hear from our elected officials that you have their back – you need to provide honest information about Know Your Rights, about creating a plan in the event ICE comes knocking, who do they call, where are people being taken if they are yanked from their home or place of work. People still remember an ICE vehicle in the parking lot of city hall (where the PD parks their cars) just a few years ago. ICE has been here in New Ro and they will return.
Please conduct a community meeting where you and other knowledgeable people can provide information – we need resources, tools – we need honest answers. Are we a sanctuary city? Well, our community doesn’t know this! There is some antiquated information about immigration from AILA on the newrochelleny.gov that is from 2019! There is a city appointed immigration advisory board – what do they do? Please do something to inform our community. I’m reaching out to you because the mayor and my city council rep never respond to my queries. Thank you
Martin Sanchez, SPHR, MA, JD
Employee and Labor Relations Professional
