After the Trump administration barred federal agencies from providing many multilingual and translation services,New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams has released a new report on ways that the city government can strengthen its language access services to meet legal and moral obligations in a city of immigrants. New York City speaks hundreds of languages, and in many areas, not enough resources are allocated to ensure compliance with language access mandates or expand capabilities.
“While the Trump administration is trying to make sure that immigrant communities are silenced, New York City has a legal and moral obligation to expand language access services citywide.” said New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “If we commit more fully to including all New Yorkers, across borough and language barriers, in our citywide conversation, we can not only provide better services to our community. We can send a message of inclusion in a way that even Donald Trump can understand.”
The report, ‘Let’s Talk: A Review of Language Access in NYC’ examines the challenges of and necessity to communicate with a city that speaks as many as 800 languages, the most linguistically diverse city in the world. More than 1.2 million New Yorkers speak a language at home that is spoken by less than 1% of the city’s population. Nearly half of all New York City residents speak a language other than English, and nearly a quarter possess limited-English proficiency (LEP).
These language barriers are urgent, particularly in cases of emergency alerts and other critical information, as we have seen in instances such as the COVID-19 pandemic and extreme weather. Beyond that, it it extends into our schools, medical facilities, law offices, any interaction with government. The ability to quickly effectively communicate with the people of our city is a core responsibility.
Following its analysis, the Public Advocate’s report recommends that the city:
- Create an NYC Mayor’s Office of Language Access
- Offer Bilingual Services Compensation to Employees
- Expand Language Worker Cooperatives and Allow Competition for Contracts
- Baseline Language Bank Funding
- Implement an Interpreter Bank Model for Emergency Alerts
Under Local Law 30 of 2017, one of the strongest in the country the city must provide a range of language access and translation services through its agencies. A review of agency Language Access Plans found that not only is it nearly impossible to meet the need with the resources provided, but is it extremely common to outsource translation services to third parties, an expensive and unwieldy process. Additionally, employees are frequently called upon to provide translation services outside of their defined job responsibilities.
In 2023, Speaker Adrienne Adams and the City Council took major strides forward in language access by funding Language Access Workforce Initiative, led by the Language Justice Collaborative. This initiative funded the development of a Community Interpreter Bank and three additional language services worker cooperatives for African, Asian, and Latin American languages. These worker cooperatives are instrumental in recruiting, training, and dispatching community interpreters. In contrast to private, often out-of-state companies, they maintain investment within the city itself.
The interpreter bank, which is the second in the nation, continues to provide language assistance in over a dozen languages, including the city’s ten most commonly spoken languages apart from English. Beyond its immediate impact of language educational and translation services, the interpreter bank has the potential to curb negative experiences of New Yorkers when interacting with city government agencies.
In a city as diverse as New York, where the hundreds of languages written and spoken contribute to its gorgeous mosaic, no New Yorker should be left in the dark due to language barriers. With recognition of pitfalls and shortcomings, and new developments to improve language accessibility, New York City can strive to be a leader in language access in the country and the world – no matter what declarations come from this White House.
“Access to information in a language one can understand is not a luxury, but a lifeline for immigrant New Yorkers. We take tremendous pride in being recognized as the most diverse city in the world, yet, in a city where almost half of the population speaks languages other than English at home, families struggle to get access to emergency alerts, school notices, or health information in a language that they can comprehend,” said Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition. “New York City can and must do better to provide all New Yorkers with equitable access to critical information. The city pays millions of dollars annually to out-of-state translation and interpretation companies. Instead, New York City must invest in our local workers and our economy by expanding the worker-owned language cooperatives model and continuing its support of the Community Interpreters Bank, while also properly compensating the bilingual and multilingual municipal workers who can serve more New Yorkers because of their language skills. We thank the Public Advocate for this timely and relevant report, and for continuing to advocate for more equity and opportunity for immigrant communities.”
“New York takes pride in being the most linguistically diverse city in the world, and that means every New Yorker deserves equal access to services —regardless of language. For Asian communities, where 43% have low English proficiency, language access is urgent, and, in crises, lifesaving. Yet traditional systems and vendors haven’t kept pace. That’s why through the Language Justice Collaborative, we are building language cooperatives from the ground up, training community members to step in where the market falls short. We thank the Public Advocate for this report calling out these gaps and pushing for action that meets the scale of the need,” said Catherine Chen, executive director, Asian American Federation.
"It is crucial that we work to expand language services for immigrant New Yorkers, now more than ever. While the Trump administration hopes to sow fear and strip our communities from the most basic services, we must fight to protect the most vulnerable amongst us. NYC thrives off of the rich diversity of our immigrant communities, and the findings within the Public Advocate’s report confirm what many of us have already known to be true: we must provide robust Language Access across government services citywide. Language interpretation and translation should be upheld as a right, not a luxury," said Council Member Alexa Avilés.
“Language access is a civil rights issue,” said New York City Council Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers. “In a city as diverse as ours, failing to provide clear, accessible communication across languages means shutting New Yorkers out of the services and supports they need to thrive. I commend the Public Advocate for this important report and join the call to strengthen our city’s commitment to language access. In Southeast Queens and across the five boroughs, our government must meet people where they are — in the languages they speak, with the dignity they deserve.”
“As Co-Chair of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, I know that language is culture, connection, and power. In a city as richly diverse as ours, equitable language access isn’t a luxury—it’s a lifeline,” said Council Member Kevin C. Riley. “From community board meetings to clinics and classrooms, every resident needs to be heard in the language they know best. While national leadership continues to exclude and erase, New York City must double down on its responsibility to uplift all communities by investing in solutions rooted in the neighborhoods we serve. That means expanding critical services, partnering with trusted organizations, supporting community interpreters, and making sure no New Yorker is left behind simply because of the language they speak.”
"As someone who interpreted for my parents for most of my childhood, I know exactly how much is lost, sometimes dangerously so, when our systems don’t meet people where they are. Language access isn’t a luxury or a service to scale back when it’s politically convenient—it’s a right, and it’s essential to dignity, safety, and trust. While the Trump administration works to silence immigrant communities, New York City has a responsibility to lead with inclusion," said Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez.
“New York City is home to more than 800 spoken languages and over 3 million foreign-born residents who depend on city services every day,” said Council Member Linda Lee. “Long before I took office, my work in the social services sector showed me just how critical language access and translation services are for caring for New Yorkers in need. As a Council representing one of the most diverse cities in the world, it’s our duty to ensure everyone receives essential services - regardless of the language they speak. I’m proud to join my colleagues, even amid federal pressures, to uphold this commitment."
“New York City has been built by immigrants, and our diversity is our greatest strength. As the federal government turns its back on immigrant communities and cuts vital multilingual services, we must step up to ensure every New Yorker can access the resources they need. The City Council has made real progress expanding language access, but there is still much more to do. I commend Public Advocate Williams for highlighting these ongoing challenges and putting forward concrete recommendations to close gaps and strengthen language access across our city,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera.
“Language should never be a barrier to accessing essential city services , especially in a place as beautifully diverse as New York City. While the Trump administration attempts to erase the voices of immigrant communities, we must double down on our commitment to inclusion and equity. Expanding language access isn't just policy; it's about dignity, respect, and justice for every New Yorker. As a city, we must continue to push for systems that empower all communities to be seen, heard, and fully served.” emphasized NYC Council Member Althea Stevens.
“As someone who proudly represents one of the most diverse districts in the city, and one where many residents have limited English proficiency, this issue is personal and deeply important to me,” said Council Member Sandra Ung. “Since taking office, expanding language access has been one of my top priorities. When government fails to meet people where they are, especially linguistically, it fails on its most basic promise to serve. This is especially critical as the Trump administration attempts to silence and sideline immigrant communities by directing federal agencies to roll back multilingual and translation services. Thank you to Public Advocate Williams for shining a light on this issue. I am ready to work with my colleagues in government to ensure that every New Yorker, no matter what language they speak, can access the services and support they need.”
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