Bill Text: NY J00678 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Resolution 678 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 31, 2019, as Cesar Chavez Day in the State of New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 39-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-03-14 - ADOPTED [J00678 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J00678-Introduced.html


Senate Resolution No. 678

BY: Senator RAMOS

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        March  31, 2019, as Cesar Chavez Day in the State of
        New York

  WHEREAS, Our nation is a symbol of  democracy,  peace,  freedom  and
justice  born out of the many men and women who have fought for and died
to preserve it; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to  proclaim  March  31,  2019,  as
Cesar Chavez Day in the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Cesar  E.  Chavez,  of  humble  origins,  and  of  Mexican
parentage, was born in Yuma, Arizona, on March 31, 1927, and was  raised
on his family's farm; due to a bad business deal, they had to sell their
farm; and

  WHEREAS,  On  May  19,  1970,  the California Rural Legal Assistance
(CRLA) reached an understanding to not  form  or  attempt  to  form  any
agriculture  worker's  union;  CRLA  recognized that its function was to
serve the rural poor, not as union organizers, advisors, or negotiators,
but as a law firm concerned with legal matters; and

  WHEREAS, Therefore, with respect to those  class  matters  involving
farm  work  employment, including wages and fringe benefits, pesticides,
discrimination  against  union  workers,   field   conditions,   working
conditions,  farm  pollution  problems,  water,  farm labor contractors,
green card and illegal entrant, agriculture employers and agri-business,
and subsidies, CRLA agreed to consult before any action was taken; and

  WHEREAS,  Five  years  later,  the  California  Agricultural   Labor
Relations  Act  (CALRA),  a  landmark  statute,  enacted by the State of
California,  became  law  on  June  5,  1975,  establishing   collective
bargaining for farm workers in that state; this agreement was reached on
May 19, 1975, on a compromise bill; and

  WHEREAS,  Cesar  Chavez was known for his keen leadership style, his
non-violent stance, and his constant struggle to protect the  rights  of
farm workers in California and throughout the United States; and

  WHEREAS,  Between  1952  and  1962,  Cesar  Chavez  worked  for  the
Community Services Organization; when  they  refused  to  organize  farm
workers  in  1962,  he left and co-founded the United Farmers Union with
Dolores Huerta; the bylaws were approved by the AFL-CIO in 1966; and

  WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez represents, for many  people,  a  humble  role
model  and  at  the  same  time,  demonstrates powerful convictions; his
boycotts of grapes and other products  raised  consciousness  about  the
life  and  struggles  of  farm  workers,  their  needs and desires for a
quality of life and education; and

  WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez's motto, "Si  Se  Puede"  translated  "Yes  We
Can," is a reflection of this commitment; and

  WHEREAS,  Like  Mahatma  Ghandi  and  Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar
Chavez believed  in  and  carried  out  his  struggle  adhering  to  the
principles  of non-violence; his many acts of protest and, particularly,
fasting served to unify the workers, alert America  to  the  dangers  of
pesticides  and  stimulate  the  conscience  and  support of many in our
Nation; and

  WHEREAS, On May 19, 2011, the United States Navy  named  a  ship  in
memory  of  Mexican-American activist Cesar Chavez who served the United
States Navy from 1944-1946, after  which  he  became  a  leader  in  the
American  Labor  Movement  and  co-founded  the  National  Farm  Workers
Association; and

  WHEREAS, The family of the State of New York commemorates and honors
Cesar Chavez as a champion of democracy and  human  rights;  his  legacy
remains  in  the  hearts and minds of many, but not nearly as much as in
the workers and members of the United Farm Workers of America, which  he
founded  and  has,  since his death on April 23, 1993, grown from 20,000
members to approximately 27,000 members; and

  WHEREAS, It is fitting  that  New  York,  with  a  history  rich  in
campaigns  and  battles  for  civil,  labor  and  human rights, joins in
honoring a great leader -- Cesar E. Chavez; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor  Andrew  M.  Cuomo  to proclaim March 31, 2019, as
Cesar Chavez Day in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to  The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.