Bill Text: NY K00546 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Commemorating the designation of the Little Dominican Republic in Washington Heights

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-12 - adopted [K00546 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00546-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 546

BY: M. of A. De La Rosa

        COMMEMORATING   the   designation  of  the  Little
        Dominican Republic in Washington Heights

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, in  keeping  with
its  time-honored  traditions,  to  recognize  and  pay tribute to those
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, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
commemorate  the  designation  of  the  Little  Dominican  Republic   in
Washington Heights; and

  WHEREAS,  The  world's first Little Dominican Republic, which became
official on September 7,  2018,  honors  the  Dominican  communities  of
Washington Heights and Inwood that built up the neighborhoods; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Little  Dominican Republic, a commercial and cultural
designation,  spans  much  of  the   Washington   Heights   and   Inwood
neighborhoods  starting from West 145th Street to West 220th Street; the
designated area features cultural and historical landmarks such  as  the
Morris-Jumel  Mansion,  the  Met Cloisters, The City College of New York
and the George Washington Bridge; and

  WHEREAS, New York City is one of the  most  diverse  cities  in  the
world and has benefitted in countless ways from the contributions of its
many ethnic communities, immigrants and their descendants; and

  WHEREAS,  The  latest  wave  of  Dominican  immigrants to the United
States began in the 1960s with a significant group  working  in  sectors
such   as   professional   services,  finance,  fashion,  arts,  design,
manufacturing,  healthcare,  hospitality,  tourism  and  small  business
notably beauty salons, bodegas, transportation and supermarkets, fleeing
the  oppression  of  the Trujillo regime and enhancing the socioeconomic
fabric of New York City; and

  WHEREAS, The Dominican population in the United States continues  to
grow,  and  as  of  2018,  there  were  2.2 million Dominican immigrants
residing in the country accounting for the fifth largest Hispanic group;
and

  WHEREAS, New  Yorkers  from  the  Dominican  community  represent  a
significant  part  of  New  York  City's  ever growing economic, social,
political and cultural landscape; and

  WHEREAS, Furthermore, New York City has the  largest  percentage  of
Dominicans  in  the  United States of America, accounting for one of the
largest immigrant groups in New York City with a significant  population
residing in the neighborhoods of Washington Heights and Inwood; and

  WHEREAS,  According  to 2018 data by the Migration Policy Institute,
an estimated 609,000 Dominicans reside in the Tri-State area; and


  WHEREAS,  Washington  Heights  has  come  to  be  recognized  as the
"barrio" that embodies Dominican culture and commerce and is regarded as
a neighborhood where they can live, eat,  worship  and  socialize  as  a
community, and share their artistic and cultural values; and

  WHEREAS,  New  York  State,  New York City and the entire nation has
benefitted from the many contributions of prominent Dominicans  such  as
Alex  Rodriguez,  Millie  Quezada,  Santiago Ceron, Raquel Cepeda, Pedro
Alvarez Guillermo Linares, Adriano Espaillat, and Cardi B; and

  WHEREAS,   The   designation   of   Little    Dominican    Republic,
affectionately  known  as Little DR, in Washington Heights will serve as
an inspiration to all Americans and will signify that  those  who  trace
their  ancestry  from Quisqueya and the Greater Caribbean region deserve
recognition and celebration  for  their  historical,  economic,  social,
political  and  cultural  contributions  to New York City and the United
States of America, and will encourage all who reside in and/or who visit
New York City to come Uptown and experience the rich food,  culture  and
community of Dominican-Americans first-hand; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate  the  designation  of  the  Little  Dominican  Republic   in
Washington Heights; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the residents of the Dominican communities of  Washington
Heights.