Friend--

Families are choosing between paying rent and putting food on the table. For undocumented immigrants, excluded from all government relief, the situation is especially dire. That's why today, we joined a 40+ car caravan to demand Governor Cuomo ensure a recovery for all New Yorkers.

But our communities can’t wait for the government to act when there are mouths to feed right now. We’re raising money for NYCOFI’s COVID-19 relief fund. Click here and make a May Day solidarity donation.

In NYC, Black and Latinx people are twice as likely to die from COVID-19. Communities of color in other parts of the state have also been harder hit than their neighbors. Immigrants, women, and workers of color are also overrepresented in essential work and jobs decimated by the crisis, like retail and hospitality. In New York City, immigrants are 49% of the workforce but 63% of workers in restaurants and hotels, 72% in personal services, and 71% in transportation.

For undocumented immigrants, the crisis has been especially dire. There may be as many as 265,000 unemployed undocumented workers in New York State at the peak of the crisis. Meanwhile, the federal government has left them out of any financial relief.

So far NYCOFI’s COVID-19 has distributed more than $25,000 in cash-assistance to working-class New Yorkers in need of relief. But that comes nowhere near the scale of the crisis. We need government action now, and we need more funds in the meantime. Click here and contribute to the fund.

After food, rent is one of the biggest concerns we’ve heard from our members during this crisis. Many families who were living paycheck to paycheck before COVID-19 are now two months behind on rent. When we’re allowed to go back to work, they will only earn enough to cover the month ahead, not repay what they owe.

That’s why today, those of us with cars took to the streets with banner and signs taped to our cars. We were there to demand Governor Cuomo protect all New Yorkers by canceling rent, creating a fund for excluded workers, and depopulating jails, prison, and ICE detention centers. If you weren’t able to join us, can you show your solidarity by contribution to the NYCOFI Covid-19 Relief Fund?

Best,

Jonathan Westin