Brandon Johnson signed a proclamation endorsing former Puerto Rican Democratic Congresswomen Nydia Velázquez and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez’s Bill 2070
El Nuevo Día – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a proclamation yesterday, Thursday, advocating for Puerto Rico’s self-determination and calling for the reintroduction of federal legislation that would lead to a Status Convention on the island, furthering a public policy that was also endorsed by the city’s City Council, Cook County and the Illinois State Legislature.
On the same day that Mayor Johnson signed the proclamation, which reflects the position adopted by the City Council, Cook County – which includes the Puerto Rican neighborhood of Chicago – passed resolutions in favor of a Status Convention, Puerto Rico’s food sovereignty and against the former Act 22 of 2012, which has granted tax privileges to millionaires moving to the island.
“The Puerto Rico status bill (2757 in the U.S. House of Representatives) proposes a process to determine Puerto Rico’s political future that does not adequately provide a fair, transparent and inclusive mechanism to ensure that all voices within Puerto Rican society are heard and respected,” states the proclamation signed by the Chicago mayor, on the 126th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Puerto Rico and the celebration of the 72nd anniversary of the Commonwealth’s Constitution.
Therefore, he considered that the alternative for an inclusive self-determination process is a measure such as the 2070 of the last session of Congress, promoted by Puerto Rican Democratic Congresswomen Nydia Velázquez and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, both elected from New York districts, which proposed the convening of a Status Convention in Puerto Rico prior to a referendum with non-territorial and non-colonial alternatives.
On May 22, the 50 members of the Chicago City Council approved a resolution calling for the re-promulgation of a bill such as 2070 of the 117th session of the federal Congress.
Meanwhile, Cook County passed resolutions on Thursday that, on the one hand, support the inclusion of a food sovereignty program for Puerto Rico in the next farm bill and reject the validity of Act 22, now integrated into Act 60 of 2019. But, in addition, coinciding with the position of Mayor Johnson and the Chicago City Council, Cook County rejected Bill 2757 and asked to revive one like 2070.
City Councilwoman Jessie Fuentes -who represents the Puerto Rican neighborhood of Chicago- was the author of the resolution, approved on May 22 unanimously by the 50 members of the body.
Like diaspora organizations such as the Puerto Rican Cultural Center of Chicago, Fuentes believes that Senate Bill 3231 and House Bill 2757 left out fundamental issues such as language and the impact of taxes under statehood, clarification of U.S. citizenship and equitable funding for proponents of each status for the referendum.
“The most important thing is that there must be equity in the financing of the educational process for each status. It is no secret that the statehood party has the necessary financial capacity, but the proponents of the other states, as an independent nation and free association, need that kind of financial support,” Fuentes said in an interview with El Nuevo Día.
For Fuentes, Governor Pedro Pierluisi himself has made it clear that he perceives it as a pro-statehood project.
She also made reference to the expressions of the New Progressive Party candidate for resident commissioner in Washington, William Villafañe, in favor of Puerto Rico, as a state, maintaining Spanish as the official language of government operations, schools and courts, and international sports representation independent of the United States.
“There is so much that has not been articulated (in bills 2757 and 3231). When we think of a democratic process, it is one that allows everyone to make an informed decision,” Fuentes added.
The Puerto Rican leadership in Chicago has maintained a dialogue with city and Illinois authorities in favor of a self-determination process that is based in Puerto Rico and has the backing of the federal government.
House Bill 2757 – which has the support of Velazquez and Ocasio Cortez – has been endorsed by five of Illinois’ 17 federal representatives. The measure is co-sponsored by Democrats Janice Schakowsky, Sean Casten, Robin Kelly, Danny Davis and Mike Quigley. It has been opposed by Democratic Congresswoman Delia Ramírez, who represents the Boricua neighborhood.
Meanwhile, the Senate version, Senate Bill 3231, has not been endorsed by Senators Richard Durbin, number two in the majority, and Tammy Duckworth.
“The work we have done with Durbin and Duckworth shows that they are also clear in not supporting this bill,” said José López Rivera, executive director of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center of Chicago and leader of the Puerto Rican community in the city.
Lopez Rivera added that the positions taken by the Chicago municipal government, Cook County and the Illinois Legislature should send a clear message to the five Democratic congressmen in the state who support 2757.
Last week, the U.S. Democratic Party Platform Committee adopted a governing program that supports the concept of 2757.
Meanwhile, the city councils of Chicago and St. Louis (Missouri) and Jackson County (Missouri) have also passed resolutions seeking to review the tax benefits of the former Act 22, at a time when the Internal Revenue Service has indicated that it is investigating nearly a hundred beneficiaries of that statute.
Read full story at elnuevodia.com: https://www.elnuevodia.com/english/news/story/chicago-mayor-and-cook-county-endorse-puerto-rico-status-convention/
