New York City Council Member Farah N. Louis has introduced three resolutions aimed at recognizing Caribbean cultural contributions in New York City while addressing concerns affecting the city’s Haitian community.
The Brooklyn lawmaker introduced the measures on September 10, including a resolution declaring October as Reggaeton Heritage Month in New York City, another designating October 17 as Wyclef Jean Day, and a third calling on the U.S. Senate and president to support legislation restoring Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
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The proposed Reggaeton Heritage Month resolution, sponsored by Louis along with Council Members Amanda Farías and Justin Sanchez, recognizes reggaeton as an expression of Afro-Caribbean and Latin American identity. It also highlights New York’s role in the genre’s development through the interaction of Caribbean, Latin American, reggae, dancehall, and hip-hop traditions.
The resolution traces reggaeton’s roots to Afro-Caribbean communities in Panama, where Spanish-language adaptations of reggae developed in the late 1970s. It also notes the genre’s evolution in Puerto Rico and the influence of New York’s dancehall and hip-hop scenes, including the role of Panamanian artist El General, who moved to Brooklyn in 1985 and became involved in the city’s Caribbean music community.
A separate resolution would designate October 17 annually as Wyclef Jean Day in New York City, honoring the Haitian-born musician’s musical and philanthropic contributions. The measure notes Jean’s upbringing in Brooklyn and New Jersey, his role as a founding member of the Fugees, his solo career and his work supporting music education and underserved communities.
The third measure, Resolution 626, calls on the U.S. Senate to pass S.4814 and the president to sign the legislation, which would require the Department of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for TPS through three months after January 20, 2029. The resolution cites continuing violence and humanitarian challenges in Haiti, including United Nations figures showing nearly 1.47 million people displaced by violence and 5.8 million facing food insecurity in 2026.
Louis, who represents Brooklyn’s 45th Council District and is the first Haitian and Bahamian American to serve on the New York City Council, has previously supported measures recognizing Haitian culture, including the Council resolution declaring July 26 as Haitian Konpa Day. That resolution was adopted in December 2025.
The three new resolutions are at different stages of consideration. The Reggaeton Heritage Month and Wyclef Jean Day measures were referred to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Relations, while the Haitian TPS resolution was heard and laid over by the Committee on Immigration on September 22.
