NEW YORK – On Wednesday, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) distributed an Immigrant Enclaves map ahead of the upcoming World Cup final in New York City. The map, which highlights various immigrant communities throughout the city, excluded the iconic Little Italy neighborhood, quickly drawing backlash from the Italian American community and Italian American organizations.Â
“As President of the Commission for Social Justice (CSJ), the anti-defamation and positive image arm of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA), I condemn the recent decision by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) to exclude Little Italy from their Immigrant Enclaves map distributed ahead of the upcoming World Cup match,” said CSJ President John A. Fratta on Friday.Â
“This decision is a slight on the millions of Italian American immigrants whose hard work, talent, perseverance, and ingenuity have made New York City what it is today – and it is not one that we take lightly,” he added.Â
Fratta formally requested that Mayor Zohran Mamdani issue an apology to the Italian American community and to distribute a revised Immigrant Enclaves map that more accurately represents the many contributions that Italian Americans have made to New York City.Â
The map “highlights neighborhoods in New York City that have substantial foreign-born populations from regions and countries around the world,” said the MOIA in response to the backlash. The office added that they plan to add additional enclaves in the coming months.Â
The CSJ will work directly with community leaders and organizations within New York City to initiate a dialogue with Mayor Mamdani and the MOIA, and to find a quick resolution to this issue.Â
Featured image courtesy of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.Â
