Mayor Bill de Blasio on Saturday addressed a gathering of Latino lawmakers in Albany as part of the Somos El Futuro Conference.
The annual event aims to raise statewide awareness of issues in the Hispanic community.
De Blasio again expressed support for a New York City Municipal ID card, and talked about the hot topic of the conference, the DREAM Act.
The legislation, which would allow undocumented immigrants to receive tuition aid from the state, passed the state Assembly but failed in the Senate on Monday.
“It’s a simple act of compassion. It’s a simple statement of morality, to reach out to our young people who are so much of our future. We can’t care where they were born, we only care what’s born in them,” De Blasio said.
City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Public Advocate Letitia James are also among the city lawmakers taking part in this weekend’s conference.
Meanwhile, supporters of the DREAM Act left from the city for Albany early Saturday to push for the legislation.
Despite the disappointment of Monday’s vote, they say they want to to make sure their voices are heard by legislators and Governor Andrew Cuomo.
“The deadline for the budget is April 1st, so we’re hoping by then it will be put into the budget. That is our goal,” said one supporter.
“I like to stay optimistic about the things that might happen. That was a really hard hit for us. But I mean I just, you know, you gotta look at the bright side,” said another supporter.
Whether the act will be included in the budget remains to be seen, but Governor Cuomo released a statement after the vote saying he would work to build support for the measure.
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