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New York City Council
Empower the New York State Council on the Arts to designate Little Yemen as a cultural district.(S.6487C/A.7033D)
Read summaries and jump into the video at the segment start.
Council staff calls the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Relations vote to order, asks attendees to silence electronics and stay away from the dais, then yields to Chair Nantasha Williams.
Chair Nantasha Williams thanks the Sergeant at Arms, welcomes attendees, and identifies herself as Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Relations.
Chair Williams announces the committee will hear and vote on two resolutions, then outlines Proposed Resolution 458A, sponsored by Council Member Shirley Aldebol, calling on the Governor to empower the New York State Council on the Arts to designate Little Yemen as a cultural district.
Chair Williams outlines Resolution 646, sponsored by Council Member Amanda Faddeus, which would declare October as Hindu American Awareness and Appreciation Month in New York City.
Chair Williams calls on Council Member Shirley Aldebol, who thanks the Chair and urges support for Resolution 458A designating Little Yemen in Van Nest/Morris Park as an official New York State cultural district. Aldebol frames the vote as affirming support for the Yemeni community and opposing Islamophobia and racism.
Aldebol describes Little Yemen as a vibrant community she represents, noting its cultural institutions, small businesses, and residents as central to the East Bronx's identity. She says the cultural district designation would celebrate Yemeni heritage and create new funding pathways for investment.
Aldebol thanks State Senator Fernandez and Assembly Member Zacarro for championing the legislation in Albany, thanks Chair Williams and committee members for their support, and says she looks forward to official recognition of Little Yemen as a cultural district.
Chair Williams thanks Council Member Aldebol, then thanks committee staff who prepared for the vote, including Alejandro, Committee Senior Legislative Counsel, and Regina Paul, Committee Senior Policy Analyst who drafted the resolutions.
Chair Williams opens the hearing for public testimony and reminds attendees that it is a formal government proceeding. She explains decorum rules, the witness table reservation, restrictions on video and audio testimony, the two-minute speaking limit, and the process for submitting written testimony to the Sergeant at Arms.
Chair Williams calls witnesses to the table, notes there are no sign-in sheets, invites any other people who wish to testify, and asks speakers to fill out an appearance slip after they finish.
Zaid Nagi, president of the Alliance of Yemeni Americans, introduces himself and says the resolution is not only about Yemen but about the Bronx. He argues that designating Little Yemen would draw tourists and New Yorkers interested in Yemeni, Arab, and Muslim culture to the borough.
Nagi says the cultural district designation would mean more jobs and prosperity for businesses. He contrasts officials who build walls between communities with those who break them, urging the Council to support the resolution, and thanks the committee.
Chair Williams thanks Zaid Nagi for his testimony, asks whether anyone else wishes to testify, and with no additional speakers closes the public testimony portion of the hearing.
Chair Williams says the committee is ready to vote. Committee Clerk William Martin identifies himself, announces a roll call vote on both coupled items, and begins the roll call with Chair Williams.
Clerk Martin calls members: Chair Williams votes aye; Council Members Louis, Hudson, and Ossé vote aye and congratulate the Yemeni community. Stevens responds with an ASR phrase transcribed as 'I have a lie,' and Maloney is called but not present at this point.
Clerk Martin reports five affirmative votes, zero negative, and no abstentions, so both Resolution 458A and Resolution 646 are approved by the committee in the initial roll call.
After the initial 5-0 result, Chair Williams says she will hold the vote open for a bit and notes that Council Member Maloney is on her way. She then thanks attendees before the recess.
The committee resumes after the vote is held open. Clerk Martin calls the continuation roll call on Resolutions 458A and 646, and Council Member Virginia Maloney votes aye.
Clerk Martin announces the final vote is six in the affirmative, zero in the negative, and no abstentions, confirming both resolutions passed. Participants then say the meeting is finished and case closed.