Celebrate Little Haiti Day

2018, in Brooklyn, New York WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, in keeping with its time-honored traditions, to recognize and pay tribute to those organizations and events which foster ethnic pride and enhance the profile of cultural diversity which strengthens the fabric of the communities of New York State; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to celebrate Little Haiti "Ti Ayiti" on Friday, May 18, 2018, in Brooklyn, New York; and WHEREAS, According to the most recent American Community Survey, Haitians are the largest immigrant group in Flatbush and make up more than 20% of the foreign-born population in this neighborhood; and WHEREAS, Naturally, this neighborhood has become the heart of our Haitian Diaspora's cultural and commercial corridor; hundreds of thousands of our community members come to this area to worship, purchase goods and services, and enjoy each other's company; and WHEREAS, Brooklyn is however facing a wave of gentrification that threatens to displace Flatbush's Haitian Diaspora; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, the community is now on the receiving end of unjust rhetoric and anti-immigrant policies which jeopardize their safety and security, including the possible expiration of Temporary Protected Status for 50,000 Haitians, many of whom found refuge in Flatbush after the catastrophic earthquake of 2010, and the ending of H2A and H2B Visa for Haitians; and WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to those organizations and events which contribute to the improvement and enhancement of the quality of life in the communities they represent; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to celebrate Little Haiti "Ti Ayiti" on May 18, 2018, in Brooklyn, New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Little Haiti "Ti Ayiti" Committee.