Adhikaar Voices Our Concerns at Public Advocate de Blasio’s Town Hall Meeting

At the town hall meeting held on June 8, 2010 in Jackson Heights, several organizations, including Adhikaar, expressed their concerns to public advocate Bill de Blasio and Council Member of district 25, Daniel Dromm.

Individuals and organizations were particularly concerned about issues plaguing the Queens community like after-school education budget cuts, translation services at hospitals, predatory lending practices, high rents, increasing pollution, childhood obesity, lack of trash collection, and humanitarian visas for 9/11 rescue workers.

Luna Ranjit, our executive director, called attention to the expanding Nepali-speaking community in New York. She urged de Blasio and Dromm to provide better translation services at hospitals, and explained the problem with the existing “language line” services. Many Nepali-speakers are interested in volunteering, but are unable due to their immigration status. She emphasized that immigration status should not take precedence over the life of a patient. Likewise, she also informed about the growing incidents of mugging and physical assault in the community and asked for community-based solutions.

Adhikaar requests you to join us at the future town hall meetings and events, and express your grievances to the elected officials! For more information and updates, please contact us at adhikaar@gmail.com.