Approved October 10, 2023

SUPPORTING NYS BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEED TO CLARIFY FOSSIL FUEL BAN DEADLINES

WHEREAS,  Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente declared a State of Emergency and  further declared that Oneida County cannot afford the cost and burden of accepting the resettlement of people transported from New York City or elsewhere who have entered the United States illegally in violation of U.S. immigration laws;  and

WHEREAS,  New York City subsequently filed a law suit against Oneida County and other counties that was later dropped which attempted to force such counties to accept illegal immigrants against the will of these counties;  and

WHEREAS,  this litigation would have overridden the longstanding practice of “home rule” self-determination which allows local elected officials to determine what is best for their communities;  and

WHEREAS,  in reaction to the defeat of New York City’s legal challenge, a legislative bill has been introduced in the State Assembly by Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (Bill No. A07992) that would make it illegal for any municipal government in the state to refuse to accept the resettlement of illegal immigrants provided that the locality conducting the resettlement agrees to cover the cost to shelter such people for a period not exceed two (2) years; and

WHEREAS,  this legislation constitutes another attempt to override the longstanding practice of “home rule” self-determination;  and

WHEREAS,  Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon has introduced Bill No. A8008 entitled the “Migrant Home Rule Transfer and Transparency Act” that would prohibit the transfer of “migrants” from one municipality to another unless or until the governing bodies of both municipalities have passed local resolutions authorizing the transfer of such people;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce supports Assemblywoman Buttenshon’s  Bill A8008 and opposes the proposed Assembly Bill A07992, and  additionally supports the position taken by Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente that Oneida County – not New York City – should decide whether Oneida County will accept the wholesale relocation and resettlement of people who have entered the United States in violation of U.S. immigration laws.