Erick Sarmiento had a question for the mayor and police chief about the new city rule telling cops not to ask crime victims or witnesses about their immigration status: Could a new mayor or police chief rescind it in the future?
Sarmiento asked the question at a forum Mayor John DeStefano and Chief Francisco Ortiz held at the Fair Haven branch library Thursday night to discuss with more than 100 largely Latino and immigrant New Haveners the police department’s recently instituted General Order 06 – 2.
In effect Sarmiento was asking: Why a regulation and not a full-fledged law?
He heard the mayor say that in his view an order and a law “have the same weight. — ¬ù It is better to let the police formulate the regulations, the orders they would work with, rather than have politicians make laws, DeStefano said. “It’s what we could do now, and I’m very pleased with it. When you push the matter onto us politicians, other things enter. — ¬ù
In a free-ranging dialogue on issues affecting the immigrant community, the other big news of the night was that the long-promised municipal ID cards are on the way, and may be here as early as this summer. “I’m convening colleagues, — ¬ù said Kica Matos (pictured with the mayor), recently appointed the city’s new head of the department of social services, “and we’re trying to modify it so that debit card feature will be included. It’s going to be exciting and very useful to people. — ¬ù
The mayor added that immigrants’ access to financial services such as opening bank accounts, fund transfers, and getting business loans were also among his priorities. “What we value, — ¬ù he said, “is people who work hard, follow the rules, and raise their families. That’s what matters, not where they come from or when they arrived. Please spread the word about this. — ¬ù
In his remarks about the General Order, Chief Ortiz said, “My only regret is that it has taken so long to come about. And from where I sit it is one of the most important documents in the department. We are working intensely with the 400 officers in the department so they understand it. And there will be consequences for any officer who does not comply. — ¬ù
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Conveners of the evening’s dialogue were, in addition to the NHPD, JUNTA for Progressive Action and ULA (Unidad Latina en Accion). Members such as Raul Rivera (pictured on the far right with Laura Huizar of JUNTA and Sgt. Luiz Casanova, district manager for Fair Haven) pointed out that ULA has been working with the community since 2003 on issues of their concern and this has materialized into the creation of the ordinance.
p(clear). “Our purpose then, as now, — ¬ù said Rivera “is to tell the community, ‘Whatever problems you have, you are not alone.’ And, — ¬ù he added, “I’m telling people who ask me if the police will obey the order that if something bad does happen, a lot depends on how we in the community handle it. — ¬ù
p(clear). People wanted to know if the ID would help them with vehicle registration. The answer was no, as that is a state matter. Would the municipal ID be honored outside of the city? “I think maybe we should expand, for starters, into West Haven and Hamden, — ¬ù said the mayor, “and then when our example is seen in the state, it will grow. That’s how it happens. — ¬ù
p(clear). “And, by the way, — ¬ù he said, “the card is not aimed for just the immigrant community. We have many students in this town and senior citizens who don’t have driver’s licenses. They too can benefit from the ID. Other people will make a problem for us about this, — ¬ù he said, without identifying to whom he was referring. “But we will deal with them. — ¬ù
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There were questions about racial profiling. It is absolutely against the law, Chief Ortiz explained. And when this man, Simon Saya, asked what should be done if an employer intimidates him by threatening to report him to the police, the chief said, “Such people who exploit employees should themselves be reported. They are exploiting the community. — ¬ù
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The mayor and the police chief were in agreement with several questioners who asked them whether the principals of the General Order might be applied throughout the city’s agencies. “Absolutely, — ¬ù said the mayor to his questioner. And when this man, Stephen Kobasa, asked if the mayor and the chief supported the idea of taking these principles, as embodied in the Order, and branding New Haven a “sanctuary city, — ¬ù they both expressed support. “I’m with you on that, but you’ll have to help lead the way with the Board of Aldermen. — ¬ù
p(clear). In remarks that were received by his generally supportive listeners as from the heart (he was translated into Spanish by JUNTA’s Laura Huizar, with an occasional insertion of a mayoral “muy importante”), the mayor said that, “I have been drawn to this ordinance and to the municipal ID because I was very troubled that people who live in my city were afraid to talk to me. That can’t be. Change begins in each human heart, and in New Haven we’re setting an example. If we do the General Order and the ID right, we can show people change is not threatening. — ¬ù
p(clear). More such community dialogues are being planned in the months ahead.