Press Room

"The mayor is simply lying to New Yorkers – the good news is, he’s never given them a reason to believe him before, so I hope they don’t start now. 

"He is still entitled to prove his innocence, but that is not what happened here. The Department of Justice did not drop this case because they believe the mayor to be innocent, they explicitly stated that this decision is not based on a review of evidence. Nor is it gone forever – the request is to dismiss without prejudice, with the ability to bring the case back in the future. Dropping this case is purely a political favor to a man who can now be leveraged and threatened, a practice that should concern all Americans. 

"The mayor is trying to sell misinformation to a city he’s already decided to sell out. This is not in fact over, it’s just being held over his head. He refuses to even address the conduct that led to the indictment in the first place, or how he could hope to govern while under Donald Trump’s thumb. We don’t have a mayor who cares enough to be honest about his case or his inability to lead – the truth is, we barely have a mayor at all. 

"I would call for the mayor to resign, but that would mean him putting the interests of the city first. At this point it is beyond clear that he can't or doesn't care enough to, and that should anger every New Yorker."

"According to the Department of Justice's recent directive, Mayor Adams adopted a strategy of selling out marginalized New Yorkers and our city’s values to avoid personal and legal accountability. Well, it worked. I hope it was worth it.

"The mayor has always had the presumption of innocence – something he has rarely extended to the New Yorkers he’s detained on Rikers pre-trial, or wanted deported based on accusations. He said he wanted his day in court, but instead sidestepped that system using the privilege and power that so few people have access to. This is obscene and obvious – the White House doesn’t want to lose their deputy in New York City. 

"It seems clear that the person we’ve had in City Hall the last several months is the real Eric Adams, and New Yorkers shouldn’t forget that. He owes New Yorkers what he has refused to demonstrate to date: honesty, transparency, humility, and some assurance that he can make up for his many bad decisions that got us here. But he knows what we all know – the person he really owes, a fealty that should anger and worry us all, is Donald Trump, and the worst of his policies."

To the incredible workforce of New York City,

First of all, thank you. Thank you for your undaunted commitment to public service, to doing what you can for the people of our city in an increasingly difficult environment. Public service is always a challenge, I know, and threats from the federal government toward everything from our funding to our neighbors can make it near-impossible to navigate the good work of doing good.

I wish, at this moment, that you had a leader who would provide moral and governing clarity. Instead, you have our mayor.

Every day, Mayor Adams makes it more clear that he is willing to maneuver city government not to better the lives of New Yorkers, but to advance his own personal agenda. As you try to address the fears of students, of shelter residents, of people relying on critical city services, his advice seems to be – do nothing in the face of the worst policies of the Trump White House. We saw this in the mayor’s order last week for city workers to allow ICE into sensitive locations when “reasonably threatened,” and in his new directive ordering commissioners to adopt his strategy of acquiescence.

Donald Trump is not the mayor of New York City. City workers do not take orders from him – well, except perhaps one specific city employee, up in Gracie Mansion. So I want you to know that there are citywide and other elected leaders who see you and acknowledge your concern and courage in the face of confusing and frustrating  directives come from City Hall. City employees are obliged to serve our fellow New Yorkers, no matter who they voted for, and on the same standard, city leadership should stand up for public workers performing that service. 

Since our mayor is otherwise preoccupied, I wanted to take this moment on behalf of all New York to say: i thank you for all you do, and I’m sorry for all the mayor isn’t.

In service,  Jumaane D. Williams Public Advocate for the City of New York

"The mayor has ordered shelters and schools to comply with ICE if they feel ‘reasonably threatened.’  At this point, immigrant New Yorkers and their families likely feel threatened by their mayor's previous silence and now his actions. This new directive undercuts past guidance and sidesteps our sanctuary laws, escalating that harm.

"This new directive will also almost certainly guarantee greater suffering for New Yorkers who are already vulnerable. City employees should not be put in harm’s way – and whatever its intent, this directive will encourage ICE to be even more violent and intimidating toward city workers and immigrant communities alike. It will force city workers to choose between their morals and their mayor’s orders. ICE has always been used to instill fear and sow chaos amidst our communities, and we will not abide by directives that intend to break our laws and subvert the defense of our communities.

"It’s clear now that while the mayor still refuses to criticize the dangers coming out of DC, he’s more than willing to aid and abet them. New Yorkers in vulnerable communities have long been harmed by people in power who saw their existence as a 'reasonable threat.' Whatever comes from City Hall or the White House, it will continue to be my office's duty to help uphold the safety and protection of all New Yorkers."

"I am happy the mayor is feeling better – at the same time, I feel deeply disturbed by this latest evidence of the mayor ignoring city regulations to suit his own purposes. He has long demonstrated a tendency to test how far he can go in bending or breaking rules, and this is a clear example.

"Communication is key – not only in the event that the public advocate needs to assume mayoral powers, but to proactively ensure the city charter can and will be followed in the event of a serious outcome. Now more than ever New Yorkers need full faith in the continuity and competence of the city's government. Given the new disclosure of the mayor’s time under anesthesia last week, and his office’s failure to inform the public advocate of that fact at the time, it seems clear that this was a violation of the charter.

"Designating certain authorities to the First Deputy Mayor does not constitute the due diligence of a responsible leader, and it does not replace the charter’s language on the continuity of government.  Failing to communicate in this case is irresponsible at best and deceptive at worst. 

"In the event of any future vacancies or absences, both the public and governing partners must be able to trust that the process is followed and the government is functioning – this mayor is undermining that aim."

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams today pushed for greater support for students with disabilities in the city’s public school system. At a hearing of the City Council Committee on Education, he lamented that despite federal laws mandating services, “It is an understatement that New York City is failing to meet these standards, leaving many children without services, falling behind, or unable to attend school at all.”

In his comments, he highlighted the realities of obstacles disabled students can face without the proper physical and institutional infrastructure – including before they even enter a school building. The Public Advocate himself has Tourette Syndrome, and as a graduate of city public schools has long worked for equitable practices to support the disability community and students in our city. 

He also noted that ahead of this school year, many families were denied services for special education students due to missing a little-known deadline, with services only restored after those families waived their right to sue the Department of Education. He declared it “particularly troubling that it took three months for the DOE to offer legally mandated services to students with disabilities, causing many to fall behind.”

Given the current deficiencies of the city’s public school system in meeting the needs of students with certain disabilities, many parents choose to pull their students from public schools, enroll in expensive private schools which offer these accommodations, then sue the city for reimbursement. This legal practice cost the city $1.35 billion in the last year, and is often only available to families with the means to front tuition and employ lawyers.

“By not serving every student they can in their local public schools, the city has effectively created a two-tiered system of education, where wealthy families can secure the education their kids need, and poorer students fall farther and farther behind,” said the Public Advocate. “Until the city meaningfully prioritizes educating all students regardless of their disability status, we will continue to spend large amounts of money on educating students in non-public schools—money that could be used to transform our school system into one that is welcoming, diverse, inclusive, and supportive for all students.”

The Public Advocate’s full comments as delivered are below.

STATEMENT OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS TO THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION JANUARY 30, 2025  

Good afternoon,

My name is Jumaane D. Williams, and I am the Public Advocate for the City of New York – I should say, still Public Advocate. I would like to thank Chair Joseph and the members of the Committee on Education for holding this important hearing.

Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, all eligible students with disabilities are entitled to a free appropriate public education and special education services. This includes providing services to students who do not attend public schools, and instead attend private or religious schools or are home-schooled. It is an understatement that New York City is failing to meet these standards, leaving many children without services, falling behind, or unable to attend school at all. 

Many students with disabilities face barriers to education even before they enter the doors of a school. The city is currently experiencing an understaffing crisis among occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, and counselors. Many students cannot ride the bus without a paraprofessional—and sometimes a nurse—but there are simply not enough to go around, leaving many students stuck at home unless a caregiver can find alternative transportation. Additionally, Every year when school starts, students who require transportation and their parents report delays in being granted bus services, leaving many families without busing on the first day.

Just before the beginning of this school year, many parents of special education students in non-public schools received notice that their students’ services would not be provided due to a little-known and previously unenforced application deadline of June 1. This requirement affects about 3,500 families, and left many families paying out of pocket for services or unable to send their kids to school at all. In December, the Department of Education sent a letter to parents who had missed the deadline that said children could begin receiving services, but only if parents waived their right to sue the DOE. The waiver reportedly was vaguely worded, did not describe what services students were to receive, and would disallow parents from suing the DOE for the rest of the school year if, for example, students’ IEPs were not followed. This is deeply concerning, and it is particularly troubling that it took three months for the DOE to offer legally mandated services to students with disabilities, causing many to fall behind.

Many families pull their disabled students from the public education system and enroll them in private schools, then sue the city for reimbursement. Last year, the city spent a record-breaking $1.35 billion to cover the cost of private schools and programs for students with disabilities who were not being adequately served in their schools. Parents are entitled to do this under federal and state law, but many low-income families with disabled students, who cannot afford to front private school tuition and hire lawyers, are often forced to continue attending their local public school, even if their student is not receiving the support and services they need. By not serving every student they can in their local public schools, the city has effectively created a two-tiered system of education, where wealthy families can secure the education their kids need, and poorer students fall farther and farther behind. I have to point out, as the cost of that education, that first-tier education in private schools, goes up, that’s less money that goes into the education system to fix some of the problems I spoke about. 

Until the city meaningfully prioritizes educating all students regardless of their disability status, public we will continue to spend large amounts of money on educating students in  non-public schools—money that, as I mentioned, could be used to transform our school system into one that is welcoming, diverse, inclusive, and supportive for all students. How we fund our schools is reflective of our values, and there is a lot of work to be done before we can say that New York City Public Schools welcomes and values students with disabilities. I want to thank you as a public school baby myself, from pre-school to Masters, it is a great place to get an education with many issues that we have to address, and we need all the money to  be able to do that. So I hope we can figure out how to fix this problem. 

Thank you.