Designate Little Yemen as a Cultural District

Petition addressed to: NY State Governor Hochul

PETITION IN SUPPORT OF THE LITTLE YEMEN CULTURAL DISTRICT

Supporting New York State Legislation A.7033D / S.6487C

To Governor Kathy Hochul and the State of New York:

We, the undersigned residents, business owners, community members, and supporters, respectfully express our support for the recognition of Little Yemen in the Bronx as a New York State cultural district and for A.7033D / S.6487C.

Little Yemen represents an important part of the story of the Bronx and New York City. Over generations, Yemeni Americans have established homes, businesses, restaurants, houses of worship, community organizations, and cultural institutions while contributing to the economic and civic life of the surrounding neighborhood.

Recognizing Little Yemen as a cultural district is an opportunity to celebrate that history while honoring the diversity that has always made the Bronx special.

This designation is about recognition, not exclusion.

Little Yemen is, and will continue to be, home to people of many different backgrounds, cultures, faiths, and nationalities. Recognizing the Yemeni American heritage of this area does not erase, replace, or diminish the history or contributions of any other community.

Rather, cultural recognition allows New York to celebrate the many communities whose individual stories together make our city and state what they are today.

We support the Little Yemen Cultural District because:

- It recognizes history. Yemeni Americans have established deep roots in the Bronx and have become an important part of the social, cultural, civic, and economic fabric of the community.

- It celebrates cultural heritage. Yemeni restaurants, cafés, markets, businesses, houses of worship, cultural traditions, community organizations, and public events have helped create a distinct cultural presence in this part of the Bronx.

- It supports a diverse neighborhood. Little Yemen does not belong exclusively to one group. The neighborhood is shared by people from many backgrounds, and the cultural district can celebrate Yemeni heritage while continuing to welcome and respect everyone who lives, works, worships, visits, or operates a business here.

- It recognizes economic contributions. Yemeni American entrepreneurs and families have invested in local commercial corridors, opened and maintained small businesses, created employment opportunities, and contributed to the vitality of the neighborhood.

- It helps preserve cultural history for future generations. Cultural districts can help ensure that the history and traditions that shaped a neighborhood are documented, remembered, celebrated, and passed on to future generations.

- It can strengthen cultural institutions. The legislation places Little Yemen within the state's framework for regions of cultural significance, through which the New York State Council on the Arts may provide cultural institutions with grants, technical assistance, or other authorized assistance.

- It can encourage cultural education and exchange. Recognizing Little Yemen gives residents and visitors an opportunity to learn about Yemeni history, food, traditions, businesses, and the Yemeni American experience.

- It reflects New York's tradition of celebrating its communities. New York's identity has been shaped by generations of immigrant and ethnic communities whose neighborhoods have become part of the history and character of our state.

The New York State Legislature has already acted on this proposal. A.7033D passed the New York State Assembly and Senate, with the Senate passing the measure on April 1, 2026.

We recognize and respect that residents may have different opinions about the designation. We believe those differences should be met through dialogue, accurate information, and mutual respect.

Supporting Little Yemen does not mean changing who is welcome in this neighborhood.

It does not diminish the contributions of Italian, Albanian, Hispanic, African American, Arab, Asian, Jewish, Muslim, Christian, or any other communities that have contributed to this area.

It simply recognizes that the Yemeni American community has become an important part of the Bronx's continuing story and that this history deserves to be recognized and preserved alongside the histories of the many communities that came before it and those that will come after it.