Dear Governor Cuomo and members of the New York State Legislature,

Creating a standard driver’s license accessible to all immigrants will help to improve public
safety in the state. In areas of New York where driving is a necessity, people risk driving on our
public roads without having demonstrated proof of fitness to drive. Roads are safer when all
drivers can be tested, licensed and insured. Research has shown that undocumented
immigrants are particularly careful drivers, and are even safer when they have a state-issued
driver’s license. Additionally, having a lawful ID would make more immigrants comfortable with
asking for help from or cooperating with public safety officers and government officials
statewide.

Undocumented immigrants had access to drivers licenses in New York State up until 2002 when
there were administrative changes made by the DMV that rendered them unable to renew.
New York state should expand access to the standard license allowing people who are not able
to obtain a social security number submit a signed affidavit. Additionally, A03675 and S01747
build in protections to safeguard the information, and protect all licensed drivers from
discrimination.

As immigrant New Yorkers face increased scrutiny as to their activities by federal agencies, the
ability for the state to protect its residents against unlawful or over-reaching inquiries and
discrimination is critical. Subsequently, two critical components of this legislation include:
--protection of a standard license applicant’s information unless by judicial subpoena or judicial
warrant--protection against discrimination for using a standard license vs. another type of
license.

Lastly, expanding access to the standard driver’s license will generate millions of dollars for the
state and actually save New York motorists money. A 2017 report by the Fiscal Policy Institute
determined that costs associated with implementing a standard license would be outweighed
by revenues generated by application fees and that licensing undocumented immigrant drivers
will help lower insurance premiums for all drivers.

We, the undersigned local elected officials from New York State, hereby ask our representatives
in the state legislature to support state legislative bill numbers A03675 and S01747 and ask that
as lawmakers, you support our immigrant communities in every corner of the Empire State. We
further ask that Governor Andrew Cuomo sign said bill into law.

Signed,

Hannah Black​, Dutchess County Legislator Deborah Dawson,​ Tompkins County

Legislator
Catherine Borgia,​ Westchester County
Legislator Rebecca Edwards​, Dutchess County
Legislator
Doug Bullock,​ Albany County Legislator
Samuel Fein, ​Albany County Legislator
Beau Harbin​, Cortland County Legislator
Christopher Johnson​, Westchester County
Legislator
Anna Kelles​, Tompkins County Legislator
Kevindaryan Lujan​, Orange County
Legislator
Nick Page​, Dutchess County Legislator
William Reinhardt,​ Albany County
Legislator
Frits Zernike,​ Dutchess County Legislator
Michael Chamedies,​ Columbia County
Supervisor
Tara Gaston​, Saratoga County Supervisor
Steve Noble​, Kingston Mayor
Anthony Eramo​, Long Beach Council
President
Ben Kallos​, Co-Chair of the NY CIty Council
Progressive Caucus
Kathie Talbot​, Peekskill Deputy Mayor
George McGonigal​, Ithaca Alder
Kamal Johnson​, Hudson Alder
Ducson Nguyen​, Ithaca Alder
Sparrow Tobin,​ Middletown Alder
Vanessa Agudelo,​ Peekskill Councilmember
Dorcey Applyrs,​ Albany Councilmember
Sarah Brannen​, Poughkeepsie
Councilmember
Molly Clifford,​ Rochester Councilmember
Amanda Grant,​ Beacon Councilmember
Anthony Grice​, Newburgh Councilmember
Brad Lander,​ NYC Councilmember*
Stephen Levin,​ NYC Councilmember*
Local Progress NY is a network of local elected officials across New York State united by our
commitment to shared prosperity, equal justice under law, livable and sustainable communities, and
good government that serves the public interest.
Karen Mejia​, Newburgh Councilmember
Carlos Menchaca​, NYC Councilmember*
Ramona Montverde​, Newburgh
Councilmember
Terry Nelson,​ Beacon Councilmember
Keith Powers​, NYC Councilmember*
Antonio Reynoso​, NYC Councilmember*
Donovan Richards,​ NYC Councilmember*
Carlina Rivera,​ NYC Councilmember*
Helen Rosenthal,​ NYC Councilmember*
Ezra Scott​, Jr. Niagara Falls Councilmember
Jimmy Van Bramer​, NYC Councilmember*
Neil Bettez​, New Paltz Supervisor
Daniel Torres​, New Paltz Deputy Supervisor
Maureen Cunningham​, Bethlehem Town
Councilmember
Sarah Lister​, Potsdam Town
Councilmember
Karen Rigney,​ DeWitt Town
Councilmember
Stephanie Townsend,​ Pittsford Town
Councilmember
Robin Wilt,​ Brighton Town Councilmember
Sam Young​, DeWitt Town Councilmember
Quantel Bazemore,​ Ossining Village Trustee
Omar Herrera,​ Ossining Village Trustee
Carmen Pineyro​, Freeport Village Trustee
Sean O’Brien​, Canton Village Trustee
Jennifer Mecozzi,​ Buffalo City School
District Board Member
* denotes Councilmember as member of the
NYC Council Progressive Caucus