Collar City could become a sanctuary city
Councilman Bissember proposes sanctuary city resolution
TROY, N.Y. – A new resolution by Troy City Councilman David Bissember, could see Troy moving toward becoming a sanctuary city. The non-binding resolution is set to be discussed at the public safety meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 4. According to Bissember, a Democrat, the resolution would look to, “affirm Troy’s commitment to being an inclusive and welcoming city to all residents.” “This resolution not only reaffirms the commitment of Troy to the families in our community, and it reaffirms the important relationship between family and community,” Bissember said in a statement to The Record. “As we celebrate the holiday season with our families, my hope is that this resolution will help keep the families of Troy together and that it will make Troy a safer community in doing so.”
“The Troy Police Department has promoted a community policing philosophy in recent years. This resolution builds on that philosophy to ensure there is mutual trust between the public and law enforcement and that the public has access to city services and can seek help when needed,” Bissember said of looking to strengthen Troy’s already solid community building policing efforts in the face of federal immigration law.
Conversely, Troy City Council President Carmella Mantello, a Republican, stated her opposition to creating a sanctuary city in Troy. “I’m opposed to making Troy a sanctuary city. After talking to law enforcement officials and other folks in the community, I see no need for this legislation,” Mantello said in a statement to The Record. “In fact, I strongly support treating all individuals who may encounter law enforcement to be treated the same,” Mantello added. Troy Police Benevolent Association President Nicholas Laviano echoed those sentiments in a Facebook post, calling the resolution politically motivated. “At a time where the country seems so divided, why are we passing a resolution that obviously is further dividing us in this great city?” Laviano said of the contentious issue. “I feel that those who created this resolution did not create it based on facts or the suggestions of law enforcement professionals. They created it on their opinion and feelings. Nothing they did was researched. None of them sat down with the Police chief, or the District Attorney, or the Sheriff, or Union heads and their lawyers to talk about the ramifications of passing such a resolution. The members of the council who created this resolution did so to score political points with their base, nothing more,” Laviano added in the Facebook post.
If the resolution is adopted, Troy would join Albany, Franklin County, Ithaca, Nassau County, New York City, Onondaga County, St. Lawrence County and Wayne County among cities and counties providing sanctuary across New York State, according to the Center for Immigration Studies website.