Press Room

"I am glad to see a budget agreement on time, and with many important initiatives intact. I thank the Council and the Speaker in particular, in partnership with advocates, for their relentless efforts to not only secure capital investment in key initiatives such as affordable housing, but to oppose austerity and preserve vital programs. Nowhere is this more clear than in our libraries and cultural institutions, and I am grateful that the final budget deal restores crucial funding in these areas. 

"At the same time, we should not let relief at undoing the administration’s unnecessary and high-profile cuts to libraries obscure the reality: there are still other unnecessary, less-visible cuts in this budget, and these will have an impact far beyond the fiscal year. I will continue to review the details of the budget deal for a wide range of agencies and issues.

"Finally, it should be clear that announcing services will be slashed, then reversing course months later, is not a sign of strong administrative management; it’s playing politics with programs that people depend on. We need to lead with fiscal and moral responsibility, consider the human cost of cuts, and move forward as strong stewards of not just the city’s finances, but the city’s people."

"Gun violence is and has been a public health emergency. I commend Surgeon General Murthy for recognizing the urgency and scope of this crisis, an American epidemic that spreads to our streets, supermarkets, homes, houses of worship, and more. This declaration also prescribes a pathway to addressing a plague which is now the leading cause of death among children in America.

"Like tobacco before it, America’s obsession with guns is pervasive, but not inevitable. By highlighting the need for enhanced research, improved safety measures, expanded mental health services, and stronger community engagement, this announcement promotes common sense, actionable measures that I and others have long advocated as part of a holistic approach to combating gun violence. New York knows the pain of each shooting, the tragedy and trauma on families and communities, and the Surgeon General’s call aligns with our ongoing efforts to create safer neighborhoods.

"As we approach the end of June’s Gun Violence Awareness Month, all levels of government must implement and expand on these life-saving measures. I am eager to work with local, state, and national leaders to implement effective strategies that turn these recommendations into reality."

Yesterday, New York’s State Supreme Court found that years after the statewide HALT Solitary law, state prisons continue to violate its provisions and hold people in solitary confinement for extended periods. At the same time, New York City is moving forward in the process of implementing Local Law 42, legislation from Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams which mandates an enforceable ban on the prolonged isolation associated with solitary confinement in city jails. At a hearing of the Board of Corrections this week, Public Advocate Williams spoke of the need to fully, faithfully, and speedily implement the law.

“Many try to mask the practice of isolation with euphemistic names like punitive segregation, but there is not much difference–it is very often solitary confinement," said Public Advocate Williams. "Prolonged isolation that looks like, feels like, and acts like solitary confinement—is solitary confinement. Physical isolation coupled with the lack of meaningful social interaction causes or exacerbates trauma, as well as other mental health issues. The law as passed provides guidelines on how detainees should be separated, when necessary, in a way to make both those housed and working in NYC jails, just a bit safer.”

The state case charged that despite the ban on prolonged isolation, officials were finding ways to circumvent the law in practice. Similarly, on a city level, reports indicate that while solitary is banned in name, practices of harmful isolation have continued. The Public Advocate’s legislation closes these loopholes, while allowing for separation and de-escalation when necessary.

The Adams administration has repeatedly attempted to prevent this law from taking effect. The mayor vetoed the legislation in January and was overwhelmingly overridden by the City Council. Now, the administration wants the court to prevent the implementation of the law. 

After the administration signaled its intent to seek court intervention, the Public Advocate declared “The administration clearly has the resources to implement the law. Instead, they’re using those resources to try to continue the capability of prolonged isolation and preserve the status quo on Rikers.

Before the Board on Monday, the Public Advocate stressed the importance of fully implementing the law, saying that “It is imperative that the Board ensure compliance with this law as written, as the administration has made clear that they do not wish to comply with Local Law 42, and have asked Judge Swain to halt implementation. Instead of trying to delay and circumvent their legal obligations to continue this deeply harmful practice, this administration should act immediately to implement this law.”

Read his full statement to the Board of Correction below. 

STATEMENT OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS TO THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF CORRECTION JUNE 18, 2024

Thank you so much, Good afternoon,

Peace and blessings, love and light to everyone. My name is Jumaane D. Williams, and I am the Public Advocate for the City of New York. I would like to thank the Chair and the Board of Correction for holding this meeting today, and for taking seriously the promulgation of rules related to implementing Local Law 42. I would also like to echo the Board’s request for adequate funding to fully staff their agency, as they will be an integral part of ensuring the implementation of the law. It is no small feat to reconcile the intentions of any new laws and the day to day practices of an agency like the Department of Corrections.  

I want to begin by calling solitary confinement what it is: torture. It is cruel. It is inhumane. It can ruin people’s lives, and too many do not survive it. I also want to make clear there’s been a lot of conversation about what that meant, and our law sought really to define what we see as solitary confinement which really focuses on the prolonged isolation of an individual. Many try to mask the practice of isolation with euphemistic names like punitive segregation, but there is not much difference–it is very often solitary confinement. Prolonged isolation that looks like, feels like, and acts like solitary confinement—is solitary confinement. Physical isolation coupled with the lack of meaningful social interaction causes or exacerbates trauma, as well as other mental health issues. The law as passed provides guidelines on how detainees should be separated, when necessary, in a way to make both those housed and working in NYC jails, just a bit safer.

People who experience isolation in jails and prisons suffer socially, mentally, emotionally, and financially, both while incarcerated and after release. No one leaves solitary confinement whole. They struggle with the lasting effects of trauma and are disproportionately more likely to die by suicide or homicide. They are also at increased risk for homelessness and substance use: a 2019 North Carolina study found that survivors of solitary confinement were 127 times more likely to die from an opioid overdose within two weeks of their release.

That is why we are here today discussing Local Law 42, which bans the harmful experience of prolonged isolation in New York City’s jails—a law the City Council passed with a supermajority, and then overrode a mayoral veto with an even higher majority, not to mention with widespread public and community support. It is imperative that the Board ensure compliance with this law as written, as the administration has made clear that they do not wish to comply with Local Law 42, and have asked Judge Swain to halt implementation. Instead of trying to delay and circumvent their legal obligations to continue this deeply harmful practice, this administration should act immediately to implement this law. And again, really focus on how to keep everyone safe, corrections officers, people who work in the jails, and particularly, the detainees who are under the care of the Department of Corrections. Thank you again for really taking this seriously. And I appreciate your time. 

Thank you.

“Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom for Black Americans. The last Enslaved people in Texas did not learn of this freedom until two years after it had been declared. While legally free, Black Americans today are still waiting for it to be in full view, even as many demand that gains be taken away. Black Americans are trying to hold on to ‘freedom’ and working to move toward true liberation.

"Liberation is freedom from oppressive policies. Freedom from fear. Freedom from violence in our streets and our systems. Liberation tears down systems of injustice propped up by the powerful who benefit from them and structures they uphold. We’ve worked so long for this holiday to be recognized at all, and we’ll continue to work for justice and equity.

"In the centuries since Juneteenth was first marked by news of emancipation we have marched forward, persevering through hardship and progressing toward true liberty and justice. On the memories of ancestors who survived the unthinkable, let us march on till victory is won."

Over 30 years after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted, New York City schools have lagged far behind the law in accessibility. With less than a third of public schools fully accessible for people with disabilities, Public Advocate Williams is advancing his bill to require transparency on the city’s ADA compliance in school facilities.  “Many students with disabilities are barred from attending their neighborhood schools because of inaccessible infrastructure,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams at a City Council hearing of the Committee on Education this afternoon. “This not only means that these students are unable to fully access their communities but that they must travel to an accessible school, which may mean hours on a bus every day, cutting into their  learning time. Students are also prohibited from participating in after-school programs, unless there is someone to provide transportation home after, because the school buses will not bring them home. This lack of accessibility also means that students’ family and community members with accessibility needs are unable to attend events and meetings at these schools.” The Public Advocate’s bill, Intro 399, would require the Department of Education to report annually on the degree to which school facilities comply with the ADA. It would also make it easier to contact each school’s ADA coordinator, and make clear and public the protocol for requesting an accommodation, as well as information on the ability of zoned schools to accommodate students and employees with disabilities. Currently, as the Public Advocate stated, “It has been more than thirty years since the ADA was signed into law, yet New Yorkers with disabilities are still barred from entering and attending many of our schools.” The public reporting required in this bill will provide key information to students, parents, and staff about individual schools and spotlight areas of urgent reform. The Public Advocate has often spoken about the challenges he faced in navigating the school system with Tourette Syndrome and ADHD. His experiences have informed his advocacy on disability justice issues throughout his time in office, including in releasing ‘Out of Service,’ a report on the MTA’s lack of accessibility infrastructure and the urgent need for investment. Speaking to the need for adequate funding of accessibility improvements amid ongoing citywide budget cuts, he argued that “Every year that we do not meaningfully prioritize making school buildings accessible is another year that students cannot attend the schools of their choice, or spend valuable instructional time traveling to a school that can accommodate them.” Read the Public Advocate’s full comments to the committee below. STATEMENT OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS TO THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION JUNE 18, 2024 Good afternoon, My name is Jumaane D. Williams, and I am the Public Advocate for the City of New York. I would like to thank Chair Joseph and the members of the Committee on Education for holding this important hearing. In August of last year, Advocates for Children of New York found that only 31.1 percent of NYC schools are fully accessible for people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that governments ensure people with disabilities have equal access to public programs and services, including public education. However, many students with disabilities are barred from attending their neighborhood schools because of inaccessible infrastructure. This not only means that these students are unable to fully access their communities but that they must travel to an accessible school, which may mean hours on a bus every day, cutting into their learning time. Students are also prohibited from participating in after-school programs, unless there is someone to provide transportation home after, because the school buses will not bring them home. This lack of accessibility also means that students’ family and community members with accessibility needs are unable to attend events and meetings at these schools.  Advocates for Children has called for $1.25 billion to be allocated for improving school accessibility to bring another 150 to 200 school buildings to full accessibility by 2029.  However, in the proposed FY25 budget, the School Construction Authority has only designated $800 million for improving accessibility. Every year that we do not meaningfully prioritize making school buildings accessible is another year that students cannot attend the schools of their choice, or spend valuable instructional time traveling to a school that can accommodate them.  Today, we are hearing my bill, Intro 399, which would require the Department of Education to report annually on the degree to which indoor and outdoor school facilities comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additionally, this bill would make public the contact information for each school’s ADA coordinator, the protocol for requesting an accommodation, and information regarding the extent to which zoned schools have the capacity to accommodate students and employees with disabilities. It has been more than thirty years since the ADA was signed into law, yet New Yorkers with disabilities are still barred from entering and attending many of our schools.  Thank you.

"It’s shocking the difference and damage one administration can do to our city’s affordable housing crisis. The current administration has professed to care about affordability, but we continue to see the largest proposed rent increases in decades fueled specifically by the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) members appointed by this Mayor.  “Tonight’s vote by the RGB is a failure that will lead to an unsustainable burden on tenants across the city while also not providing the relief some owners need. With rents at historic highs and vacancy rates at historic lows, we cannot continue to try and squeeze more money out of tenants who simply cannot afford it. Doing so will only exacerbate our homelessness crisis while driving New Yorkers out of their homes. While it is true some property owners, particularly smaller scale owners, are facing financial challenges, the city and state must bolster efforts to improve access to programs that provide them with support without adding undue burdens on all tenants across the city. “It’s clear by tonight’s vote that the Board did not listen to the countless tenants who made their voices heard during the RGB’s citywide hearings leading up to this vote. The city and state must now work diligently to address the housing crisis that has been exacerbated by the pandemic–  by building and preserving housing at a rapid rate– and the Mayor must begin to prioritize tenants by implementing bold, creative solutions that help them and all who are fighting to afford a city that is rapidly becoming unaffordable."