Skip to content
Council Discourse

NYC Council meetings, chaptered and linked by time.

Created by Uzair Qadir

Inspired by Vikram Oberoi's City Meetings

Q&A

CM Krishnan questions second panel on language barriers and underreporting

New York City Council · Jun 23, 2026 · starts 1:49:35 · 1 min 40 sec

CM Krishnan asks both panelists about language barrier experiences. Stuchin highlights Yiddish-speaking and Russian-speaking communities in Brooklyn needing resources in their languages. Gage notes CAIR's bilingual Arabic-English staff and use of partner translators when needed.

Shekar Krishnan

Yeah, the previous panel we discussed and asked them about also the underreporting based on language barriers and things of that nature.

Shekar Krishnan

So I really want to ask that same question to both of you.

Shekar Krishnan

Has there been any experience that you all have had as it relates to language barriers, underreporting?

Shekar Krishnan

I know Kara mentioned the data that they've collected that's not

Shekar Krishnan

Trying to find a better word than equal to what the NYPD has been collecting.

Shekar Krishnan

But really, I just wanted to know from both of you, and we can start with you, what has the experience been in terms of the language barriers and underreporting and things of that nature?

Member of the Public - Hilary Stuchin

Sure.

Member of the Public - Hilary Stuchin

No, so we work with a citywide group of over 100 nonprofits or close to 100 nonprofits dealing with all sorts of communities.

Member of the Public - Hilary Stuchin

But I will say, in addition to the Yiddish-speaking community, which is prominent within...

Member of the Public - Hilary Stuchin

Brooklyn and elsewhere.

Member of the Public - Hilary Stuchin

Also in South Brooklyn, the Russian-speaking community often needs resources in order to access various supports and understand where they can go should a bias incident or a hate incident occur.

Member of the Public - Sophia Tobia Gage

At CARE New York, many of the members of our education staff are bilingual and so are speaking.

Member of the Public - Sophia Tobia Gage

The speaking Arabic, which is the...

Member of the Public - Sophia Tobia Gage

Arabic and English are the main languages that our constituents are speaking.

Member of the Public - Sophia Tobia Gage

And then also, additionally, with the partner organizations that we work with, there are often translators if need be.

Member of the Public - Sophia Tobia Gage

But that hasn't been an issue necessarily.