NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday he has "reservations" about the New York City Council's move to pass voting rights legislation for non-citizen residents with concerns over its legality.
"I do have reservations, but obviously I want to see exactly what they're doing. Look, on the plus side, we're talking about our fellow New Yorkers and folks who contribute to this city and a part of the life of the city, and we've tried in so many ways to reach them and support them ... I'm also concerned about the legal question, which is unclear whether it's something that can be done on the local level," he said during his daily news conference.
The measure, which is poised to be passed with a veto-proof majority, would grant work visa holders, green card and DACA recipients the right to vote in municipal elections— including for mayor, city comptroller and members of the City Council.
Participating in state and federal elections would not be allowed.
The mayor also said he respects "the value of citizenship" and wants to encourage more people to become citizens.
"I also have feelings about the value of citizenship and wanting to encourage people to become citizens fully, and there's a lot of people [who] do not pursue full citizenship, even though they can, and that to me is an issue," he said. "I want citizenship to be something that people pursue fully, quickly, every chance they get."
De Blasio said the bill is "certainly not something I would be intending to veto," but added "it's also something I'm not sure is the right way to go about this."
"I have mixed feelings. I've had mixed feelings on this issue for a long time," he went on to say. "We'll look at the language. I don't see a scenario where I'll veto."
Democratic Councilman Yandis Rodriguez, who sponsored the legislation, confirmed to the New York Post the Council is set to vote on Dec. 9.
He brushed aside any questions of it's legality to WCBS 880'S Steve Burns.
"The federal law already also establishes that the state and the city are the ones that have the power to decide who votes in the local election," Rodriguez said. "We're going to be sending the message loud and clear to those states that are restricting the rights of voters that there's a hope that we are sending throughout the whole nation."
Doma Lama, a resident who grew up and went to school in the city and most recently worked as a community organizer in the run up to this fall's election, said her inability to vote is "disheartening."
"The love and loyalty that I have for this city cannot be calculated upon my status as a permanent resident," Lama said.
Lama is one of about 800,000 green card and work visa residents who would now be allowed to participate in local elections.
If passed, Rodriguez said the Council's action will be a role model for "the whole nation."