“We are grateful to the New York City Council for passing the safe access bills, an important step toward ensuring that New Yorkers of all faiths can gather and worship free from harassment and intimidation. We are especially thankful to Speaker Menin for her leadership and tireless advocacy in shepherding these bills to passage. The message today is clear: in New York City, everyone deserves to gather safely. New York is strongest when every community can live its faith openly and proudly, without fear, and today the New York City Council has honored that fundamental right.”