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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 28 June 2022
Judge says NYC can't let noncitizens vote in city elections

NEW YORK (AP) — New York core of our democracy
City can't let noncitizens and values as a city of im-
vote for mayor and other migrants," said Ahmed Mo-
city officials, a judge ruled hamed, the legal director
Monday, siding with Re- for the Council on Ameri-
publicans who challenged can-Islamic Relations' New
the measure as unconstitu- York chapter.
tional. The city had argued that
In January, New York be- the state Constitution
came the first major U.S. leaves room for the city to
city to grant widespread make rules about its own
municipal voting rights to elections, and that the law
noncitizens, though none would help ensure that lo-
had cast ballots yet. The cal officials are representa-
law didn't affect presiden- tive of the population.
tial, congressional or state Legally documented, vot-
elections. ing-age noncitizens com-
The law's supporters said it prise nearly one in nine of
gave an electoral voice New York City's 7 million
to many people who have voting-age inhabitants.
made a home in the city More than a dozen com-
and pay taxes to it but face munities across the United
tough paths to citizenship. States allow noncitizens to
New York GOP Chair Nick cast ballots in local elec-
Langworthy and several New York City Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez speaks during a rally on the steps of New York tions, including 11 towns
Republican elected offi- City Hall, ahead of a City Council vote to allow lawful permanent residents to cast votes in elec- in Maryland and two in
cials said the law violated tions to pick the mayor, City Council members and other municipal officeholders, Dec. 9, 2021. Vermont. In San Francisco,
provisions in the state con- Associated Press noncitizens can vote in
stitution and state election school board races; New
law that specifically confer city from registering po- that came to this country ering next steps. York City allowed the same
voting rights on citizens. tentially more than 800,000 legally and worked tire- "This is a disappointing for three decades, until its
State court Judge Ralph new voters without U.S. citi- lessly to become citizens, court ruling for people who school board was disband-
Porzio agreed with the zenship. I consider voting to be a value bringing in thousands ed in 2002.
GOP. Langworthy hailed the rul- sacred right bestowed on more New Yorkers into the Meanwhile, Alabama, Col-
"Though voting is a right ing as a "victory for citizen American citizens," added democratic process," the orado and Florida have in
that so many citizens take rights, election integrity state Assembly Member city Law Department said recent years adopted rules
for granted, the City of New and the rule of law." Michael Tannousis, whose in a statement. that would preempt any
York cannot 'obviate' the He and other plaintiffs ac- parents were originally Immigrant rights advocates attempts to pass laws like
restrictions imposed by the cused the Democrat-led Greek nationals. He repre- decried the ruling and the one in New York City.
Constitution," wrote Porzio, city government of passing sents parts of Staten Island were looking ahead to a Arizona and North Dakota
whose court is on Staten the law for partisan gain. and Brooklyn. potential appeal. already had prohibitions on
Island. His ruling blocks the "As the son of immigrants The city said it was consid- "The decision strikes at the the books.q

Heckler charged with assault after confronting Rudy Giuliani

ket produced dueling ac- him of being "a woman kill- there, 'I want this guy held
counts, with Giuliani liken- er," which he took to be a and I want him arrested,'"
ing the touch to being hit reference to the Supreme he said.
by a bullet, saying it could Court's ruling overturning The Legal Aid Society,
have killed him, while the Roe v. Wade. which is representing the
man's lawyers described it In the video, Giuliani bare- man, disputed Giuliani's
as a tap, meant to get the ly reacts when his back account.
mayor's attention. was touched, but in inter- "Our client merely patted
Security camera video ob- views afterward he said it Mr. Giuliani, who sustained
tained by the New York knocked him forward and nothing remotely resem-
Post captured the encoun- nearly caused him to fall. bling physical injuries, with-
ter, which happened as Speaking to fellow Repub- out malice to simply get his
Giuliani was campaigning lican radio host Curtis Sliwa attention, as the video foot-
for his son, Andrew, who on WABC, he said it felt age clearly showed," the
is seeking the Republican "Like somebody shot me." society said, adding that
nomination for governor in Later, in a news confer- the man "was then need-
Andrew Giuliani, left, a Republican candidate for Governor of Tuesday's primary. ence on Facebook, he lessly held by the NYPD in
New York, is joined by his father, former New York City mayor
Rudy Giuliani, during a news conference, June 7, 2022, in New Giuliani was standing with said it was "as if a boulder custody for over 24 hours."
York. a group of people when a hit me." "Given Mr. Giuliani's obses-
Associated Press man walking past reached "I might have ordinarily ig- sion with seeing his name
out, touched the Repub- nored it," Giuliani told Sliwa, in the press and his demon-
By KAREN MATTHEWS campaign event was ar- lican's back with an open but he said he decided to strated propensity to distort
Associated Press rested, jailed for more than palm, and then said some- call the police because the truth, we are happy to
NEW YORK (AP) — A heck- 24 hours and now faces an thing as he walked away. "these Democrats get correct the record on ex-
ler who clapped former assault charge. Police said the man said, away with everything." actly what occurred over
New York City Mayor Rudy The episode Sunday at a "What's up scumbag?" Giu- "I called the 1-2-3 precinct the weekend on Staten Is-
Giuliani on the back at a Staten Island supermar- liani said the man accused ... and I told the people land," it said.q