Res. No. 1282
Resolution calling upon the Legislature of the State of New York to adopt A6531, authorizing localities to remove citizenship requirements for police and firefighters in their jurisdictions, thus enabling the Council to adopt a local law removing such citizenship requirements for such personnel.
By Council Members Yassky, Boyland, Brewer, Fidler, James, Liu, Seabrook, Stewart and Jackson
Whereas, The New York City police (NYPD) and fire departments (FDNY) provide essential law enforcement and safety services to the public; and
Whereas, Currently, United States citizenship is required to be eligible for membership in the NYPD and FDNY; and
Whereas, Requiring United States citizenship of all NYPD and FDNY personnel significantly restricts the pool of otherwise qualified individuals that are willing and able to serve the public good; and
Whereas, The United States citizenship requirement is also inconsistent with the demographic makeup of the City of New York, in that the ethnic diversity of the City is not adequately represented by NYPD and FDNY personnel because large segments of the City’s population are not United States citizens; and
Whereas, Removing the citizenship requirement from the eligibility requirements for membership in the NYPD and FDNY to allow the inclusion of lawful permanent residents and legal non-naturalized immigrants would remedy the lack of representation in both departments of many of New York City’s ethnic communities, as well as provide a greater pool from which members may be selected; and
Whereas, Modification of the eligibility requirements for the NYPD and FDNY would not only more accurately reflect the diversity and inclusiveness of New York City, but would also provide the opportunity for the police and fire departments to benefit from the skills and expertise of a larger group of eligible New Yorkers; and
Whereas, A6531 would authorize localities, such as the City of New York, to remove, by passage of a local law, the citizenship requirements for police and firefighters in their localities; and
Whereas, Enactment of A6531 and a local law effectuating its provisions would improve the diversity of NYPD and FDNY personnel and would make a greater number of qualified New Yorkers eligible to join each department; and, now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Legislature of the State of New York to adopt A6531, authorizing localities to remove citizenship requirements for police and firefighters in their jurisdictions, thus enabling the Council to adopt a local law removing such citizenship requirements for such personnel.