Press Room

"Finally, congestion pricing can go into effect. No version of the program is perfect, no version would make everyone happy, but a version of it needs to be in place. This modified program will raise less revenue and do less to reduce congestion, and the governor needs to answer for how to address those shortcomings. 

"Even at this reduced rate, congestion pricing will be an essential part of raising revenue for public transportation, reducing pollution, and easing traffic – but we knew that six months ago, before the inexplicable pause. We knew that through the decade spent advocating for and crafting the policy that I am glad will finally hit our streets soon. Moving forward, my office stands with the state in support of congestion pricing being implemented expeditiously and maintained to benefit New Yorkers, against obstacles that may arise.

"It is clear why the governor is allowing the program to move forward now, and it’s also clear that given the future we face in January, our city and state will need much stronger leadership than has been shown – on this and other issues – in order to protect the gains we have made."

As Governor Hochul announced a new congestion pricing model, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams and Transportation Workers United (TWU) Local 100 announced a settlement with the MTA in their lawsuit over cuts to some bus services in the wake of the original ‘pause’ of the congestion pricing program. 

Under the terms of the settlement, the MTA reaffirmed that the bus services in question would continue without cuts, and that they “do and will comply with Section 1204(15) of the Public Authorities Law.” The settlement also states that the MTA will not “institute a ‘substantial or general change’ in the levels of service furnished upon its omnibus line facilities without giving not less than thirty days’ written notice.” This follows the original Temporary Restraining Order which the Public Advocate and TWU were granted over the summer, restoring the bus routes in question to the original levels of service. 

The New York State Public Authorities Law requires the MTA to give 30 days notice of any non-emergency bus service reduction to the NYC Mayor and Council, and allow for a public hearing. The suit alleged that the MTA failed to provide such notice, and under the terms of the settlement, the MTA must not only adhere to that standard, but alert the Public Advocate and Council Speaker of any coming cuts.

“I’m glad to have this suit resolved in a way that ensures New Yorkers will have access to the transportation options they rely on,” said Public Advocate Jumaane Williams about the settlement. “With the governor reinstating a form of congestion pricing earlier today and the settlement this afternoon, we are showing the critical need to fully fund public transit services for New Yorkers in need, and for agencies to work with the communities they serve rather than imposing harmful changes. I thank the TWU and all who worked on this case to strengthen services for the city's public transit.”

The lawsuit aimed to establish relief from non-emergency, long-term reduction of bus service throughout the city. Roopdai Julie Davis, an 82-year-old resident of Kensington and daily bus rider, joined the suit as representative of the many New Yorkers who suffered as a result of the cuts to service, which began without public notice on or about Friday, July 12.

"The pause didn’t just affect the capital budget of the NYC Transit authority and the MTA," argued Arthur Schwartz,  Principal Attorney at Advocates for Justice Chartered Attorneys, who represented the Petitioners. "It affected the operating budget -- and right away, the reaction of the leadership of the MTA was to cut service. New Yorkers should understand that there is a direct correlation between the money that is going to come in from congestion pricing and the subway and bus service that people rely on."

"Unions are not just the guardians for their own work, they are in fact the guardians for the transit system as a whole," said J.P. Patafio, TA Surface Vice President for TWU Local 100. "We stepped right into action when these cuts were going forward to prevent harm to our members and the public at large. So it’s really important to understand the role of the union here—to make sure the service is kept at the right level—and if it’s not, the full force of the union will be used."

This suit was the first in a series to be filed in coordination with a coalition of transit riders, disabled commuters, and environmental advocates as part of a legal effort initiated by Comptroller Brad Lander

“We brought our lawsuits to ensure that congestion pricing would go into effect as required by law – and it couldn’t come at a more urgent time," said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. "This is a long-awaited win for hard-working bus riders who will finally see less traffic on their commutes and for subway riders who will see modern signals and more elevators." 

"The mayor’s sanctimonious claims in the wake of his preferred choice’s – Donald Trump’s – victory would be absurd if they weren’t so angering. With so many New Yorkers rightly frightened for their communities and families, he is proudly claiming ideological victory and blurring the line between morally right and politically advantageous.    

"Just as he did in 2022, the mayor is blaming progressives for not putting out the flames he fanned on issues of public safety and immigration, among others. He correctly identifies problems that are top issues for our constituents, but rather than elevate the solutions available, he joined his fellow conservatives in fearmongering and scapegoating.

"Whether in hopes of special treatment or in genuine belief of the ultra-conservative Trump talking points he parrots, this mayor seems willing to either stand alongside Trump, or to look the other way in the face of an agenda that harms the same people that the mayor claims to represent."  

"Like many New Yorkers, I’ve been reflecting since Tuesday night, and like everyone, I don’t have the answers. But I do have questions and conversations we need to honestly reckon with – now, and in the days and years to come. 

"As appalling as the messages of demagoguery, racism, misogyny, xenophobia, bigotry, hatred and a rejection of facts and science are. As much as those ideas and policies are aimed at hurting women, people of color, immigrants, members of the LGBTQ+ community, low-income communities, religious and ethnic minorities – people who have already long been hurting. It is inescapable that over 72 million Americans voted for that.

"I know that some of those millions – too many – truly believed in all of the dangerous ideals of this campaign. I also know that others ignored or excused these realities to justify their vote. As with similar moments in history, I know so many fell into the trap of otherizing – of turning blame and hate on groups they perceived as lower on the rungs of social status. The ability to say “at least I'm not them” is intoxicating, especially when the leader selling this message ties it to patriotism. Fearful of their own precarious position, some turned resentment on those with even less. We can’t ignore why people have these fears, but neither can we excuse the outcome.

"I’m sure people who supported Donald Trump have many reasons for doing so, and yet those reasons do not negate the damage of this moment and the many painful moments to come, especially for many of the most marginalized communities in our city. Downplaying this damage only allows the incoming harm to fester and grow – so at least the mayor finally saw fit to mention Kamala Harris’ name yesterday. 

"That people chose this, most with full knowledge of the implications, is something we have to reckon with as we move forward to protect those who need it most. And we can’t do so by self-righteously dismissing or ignoring millions of Americans or standing by status quo messages and messengers as we have for years. This, combined with anti-Blackness and misogyny that has always existed, plunged all of us backwards on Tuesday, including everyone who voted to align with a societal “us” at the expense of “them.”

"Finally, and not to be dismissed, nearly 70 million of us voted against Donald Trump and all he represents, and we have a mission and obligation to stand with the communities we know are most under threat. We also have a mission to show those who voted for this harm that there is another way.

"There have always been two Americas – those who use their power to pit people against one another and accumulate even more, and those who do what they can, with what power they have, to give that power to the people. As a person and as Public Advocate, I’m proud to be in that second group, and I will continue to fight for the safety and freedom of New Yorkers, the values they hold, and the change they deserve."

"Passing Proposal One is a vital victory for New Yorkers, strengthening reproductive freedom and more broadly codifying anti-discrimination protections. With continued conservative attacks on fundamental rights and marginalized communities, I am grateful for this result and the work that went into it.

"At the same time, I am disappointed that most of the mayor’s self-serving charter amendment process and proposals – and the misinformation that drove them – are also poised to pass. This was a power grab by a mayor in whom trust has been shaken to say the least. I'm also concerned about the long-term consequences of this process. Despite this political maneuver by the mayor, I will continue to work to hold City Hall accountable, both to the people of our city and to the standards we set."

In an effort to expand opportunities for and access to higher education in New York City, Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams is pushing to pass his legislation that would create a college counseling program available to high school students throughout the city. At a City Council hearing on the bill today, he spoke about the need to combat inequities in the education system that create barriers to opportunity for many students in underserved communities.

“New York City’s public schools are among the most segregated in the nation, which begins early in students’ education and persists through graduation,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams at the hearing. “Some of the barriers to students attending college include the high cost of tuition and application fees, the need for timely financial aid education, and lack of access to quality school counseling… High school counselors play an important role in access to college opportunities, but many under-resourced and overcrowded schools either lack a counselor or have too few counselors for their student population.”

The legislation, Intro 700, would require the Department of Youth and Community Development to establish a program that provides counseling, resources, and other support to high school juniors and seniors and their families in applying to college. Specifically, that program would:

• Provide general information regarding the college admissions process and college readiness, as well as a checklist of information required to successfully complete a college application.
• Provide information regarding how to access and assemble the data and records required to apply to college.
• Counsel students and families regarding college options, including tips on how to present a competitive application.
• Refer students and families to resources regarding financial aid, scholarships, and other college funding options.  
• And lastly, require DYCD to engage in outreach to inform students and families about this program.

Access to this kind of counseling and information is invaluable for students. According to data collected by the US Department of Education, high school seniors who talked one-on-one with a school counselor were more likely to complete a FAFSA, attend college, and enroll in a bachelor’s degree program.

“While not every student wants to attend college,” closed the Public Advocate, “We should be ensuring that all students have the opportunity and are fully equipped to make the best decision for their futures. As a public school baby myself, from preschool to Master’s, I’m very proud of the public school system, and there is a lot more to do to make sure people access what’s available to them”

The Public Advocate’s full comments at the hearing are below, and video is available here.   

STATEMENT OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS TO THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES ON EDUCATION AND CHILDREN AND YOUTH OCTOBER 30, 2024

Good morning,

My name is Jumaane D. Williams and I am the Public Advocate for the City of New York. I thank Chairs Joseph and Stevens and the members of the Committees on Education and Children and Youth for holding this hearing.

New York City’s public schools are among the most segregated in the nation, which begins early in students’ education and persists through graduation. Students of more color are disproportionately likely to attend under-resourced and overcrowded schools and, despite comprising 70 percent of the city’s student population, receive just a small fraction of specialized high school offers. Black and Brown students, as well as students with disabilities, English Language Learners, students experiencing homelessness, students in foster care, and students living in poverty are less likely to graduate from high school than their more privileged peers.

Some of the barriers to students attending college include the high cost of tuition and application fees, the need for timely financial aid education, and lack of access to quality school counseling. The same disparities that we see in achievement in our public schools are reflected in college, with Black, Brown, and low-income students having lower rates of enrollment in bachelor’s degree programs. Bachelor’s degree attainment can differ by as much as 76 percent between neighborhoods—for example, a Center for an Urban Future report found that 89 percent of those living on the Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island had a bachelor’s degree, compared to only 13 percent in Morris Heights and Mount Hope.

High school counselors play an important role in access to college opportunities, but many under-resourced and overcrowded schools either lack a counselor or have too few counselors for their student population. According to data collected by the US Department of Education, high school seniors who talked one-on-one with a school counselor were more likely to complete a FAFSA, attend college, and enroll in a bachelor’s degree program. 

For these reasons I introduced Intro 700—being heard today—which  requires the Department of Youth and Community Development to establish a program that provides counseling, resources, and other support to high school juniors and seniors and their families in applying to college. This program would: 

Provide general information regarding the college admissions process and college readiness, as well as a checklist of information required to successfully complete a college application.

Provide information regarding how to access and assemble the data and records required to apply to college. Counsel students and families regarding college options, including tips on how to present a competitive application. Refer students and families to resources regarding financial aid, scholarships, and other college funding options.   And lastly, require DYCD to engage in outreach to inform students and families about this program.

While not every student wants to attend college, we should be ensuring that all students have the opportunity and are fully equipped to make the best decision for their futures. As a public school baby myself, from preschool to Master’s, I’m very proud of the public school system, and there is a lot more to do to make sure people access what’s available to them. I do want to shout out CUNY and SUNY for making some recent changes, and hopefully we’ll get more students into college. There’s still a lot more to do.

Thank you.