Protecting immigrants key issue for Queens district attorney

In recent times we have witnessed a lot of changes in the U.S. political leaders, with new faces, new dynamic figures reaching the top political positions by reaching out to all people and breaking old rules and traditions.

Such an exceptional personality is the present New York’s Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, who has announced her candidacy for Queens County District Attorney in 2019.

Ms Katz will pursue an aggressive agenda including better protection for immigrants, bail reform, more stringent prosecution of hate crimes, sex crimes and domestic violence and also addressing gun crime as a public health concern.

Immigrants are a growing force in politics in the United States, and New York’s borough of Queens is no exception being the home of over 2.3 million people, coming from 190 countries and speaking about 200 languages.

“You look at Queens county and you know why America is great. We are from 190 countries, we speak 200 languages. We are every religion, every country, and every ethnic background. We are stronger because of our diversity and we are the protectors of the American Dream because we protect immigrants,” said Melinda Katz.

Born and brought up in Queens, Katz was elected in 2013 and sworn in as the 19^th Queens Borough President in 2014. She is empowered by the New York City Charter to advocate for the needs of the borough residents, 48% of whom are foreign born.

“It’s not only immigration, it’s about workplace discrimination, it’s about hate crimes,” said the dedicated public servant who had also served the borough as an Assemblywoman and a Councilwoman in her more than two decade long political career.

Talking about her future plans, Melinda Katz said there were a number of challenges for making Queens a safe place safe for all.

Her agenda will continue to make Queens a great place for middle-class families to live, work and raise a family. She plans to protect workers and tenants, schoolchildren and seniors, and make sure everyone is protected by the law.

“We need to make sure our streets are safe by reducing gangs and gun violence, giving kids good after-school options and building better police-community relations,” she said.

In the State Assembly and the City Council, Katz fought for legislation to keep Queens safe. She wrote the law requiring HMO's to provide women direct access to gynecological care without forcing them first to see a primary care physician.

Melinda Katz also authored the law that helps prosecutors in cases of long-term, repeated child abuse where the abuse is so protracted and pervasive that the child cannot pinpoint the specific dates and times that, prior to the Katz law, were necessary to win convictions.

In addition, she carried several bills to increase penalties for various forms of domestic abuse and was recognized as one of the strongest pro-choice voices in the State Legislature.