Press Room

"This report is damning, if delayed. It documents both specific instances of harm and a clear overarching pattern of abuse of power within the Cuomo administration – one which many of us saw and challenged long before the pandemic. The former Governor engaged in repeated incidents of sexual misconduct, mishandled the COVID crisis, and focused time and resources on a book deal rather than combatting that crisis. He was clearly only ever interested in his own interests.

"Again and again throughout the report, we see how Andrew Cuomo abused his power and position to both commit egregious actions and coerce the people under his control to support both the actions themselves and the coverup. With the former Governor exerting such influence, it was and has always been important for those outside of it to use the power they have to stand independently and speak out about these instances of abuse – or to preemptively stand against the culture that enabled them. This impeachment report documents a series of terrible, preventable actions, and in holding Andrew Cuomo accountable, we must also account for how he was enabled and empowered.

"The former Governor’s conduct was clearly impeachable, and the legislature should explore how it can move forward to help ensure the full legal accountability– as a condemnation of the conduct displayed, the Cuomo administration that perpetrated it, and the systems in Albany that perpetuate these abuses."

"The federal approval of a 988 number for suicide prevention and mental health crises is a welcome and potentially lifesaving measure. New York and the nation are experiencing a mental health crisis compounded – but not caused – by the pandemic, and easing access to support services is vital. At the same time, it is not intended as a comprehensive outlet for mental health emergencies, and it is not a replacement or substitute for a 3 digit number that dispatches rapid, non-police emergency response teams to respond to these crises, a tool that my office has repeatedly called for and pursued legislatively, and which the de Blasio administration has not supported.

“If the Mayor wants to celebrate federal action on this issue, he should embrace fundamental reforms on a city level, where he has prevented the very progress we have been pushing. I have appreciated this administration’s focus on mental health and wellness, as this issue is personal to me and so many New Yorkers, but the execution of that focus has often been ineffective or inadequate. As I’ve previously discussed, we need a robust approach to mental health crises that centers a healthcare approach, not a criminal one, in addition to broad wraparound services that help preempt and prevent emergencies. In his last weeks in office, the Mayor should focus on finally laying that foundation here in the city.”

"This trial and the verdict it produced are clear and devastating representations of the way our country and our legal system view innocence and guilt, vigilantes and villains, race and the fight against racial injustice. A white seventeen year old killing protesters with a weapon of war is celebrated and acquitted. A black seventeen year old walking the community with a bag of Skittles is criminalized and murdered.

"Across the country we see people committed not to changing systems of injustice, but using those systems to harm those who would object or protest against them. This verdict sets a new standard that will only encourage future Kyle Rittenhouses – some in the streets armed with weapons, some in government armed with oppression.

"Today, I’m praying for the families of Kyle Rittenhouse’s victims, that they might someday find peace even in the face of this verdict, and continuing the work to change the systems that led to today’s result. We can be demoralized, devastated by this verdict, but we cannot be deterred."

"Today our city and nation observe Veterans Day and honor the people who have answered their country's call to service. I stand in appreciation of all veterans who have chosen to serve our nation in uniform, including within my own family and staff. We must be sure to convey our respect and gratitude not only in parades and ceremonies, but in our personal interactions and, perhaps most importantly, in our policies.

"Too many veterans, having given so much, are disrespected or abandoned when they return home– met by a government failing to fulfill their end of the contract. From healthcare to housing, we can and must do more to support and stand by veterans. This is not about support of war or violence, but of the people who have risked their safety in the spirit of service.

"Veterans Day takes its origin from Armistice Day, born out of a celebration of peace. We must continue the work toward achieving that peace, at home and abroad."

"I want to thank my team for successfully navigating our first week of gradually returning to the office in person, and for doing so safely. Ahead of the implementation of the vaccine requirement for city workers, I am proud to have already achieved 100% compliance within the Office of the Public Advocate.

"With the new requirement about to take effect, I once again encourage the city’s municipal employees from all agencies to get vaccinated today and protect yourself, your coworkers, your families and friends. While it is true that the rollout of this policy could have been improved, and its development aided by greater union participation, these frustrations are not a reason to oppose vaccination and risk lives, either from COVID-19 or from a lack of crucial services New Yorkers depend on. We all have a moral mandate to protect one another."

Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams spoke at a City Council hearing convened Tuesday to discuss his resolution to officially recognize Transgender Day of Remembrance, November 20, and Transgender Day of Visibility, March 31, as holidays within the City of New York. Both Transgender Day of Remembrance and Transgender Day of Visibility are marked around the country, and specifically in New York, with vigils, protests, forums, and other actions and events, but the days are not currently formally recognized by the city.

"Each year remains a reminder that we all have to collectively work to seriously redress the unique and violent experiences of transgender and gender non-conforming New Yorkers," said the Public Advocate to start the hearing of the Committee on Cultural Affairs. "Now more than ever, increased visibility and organizing for trans lives remains crucial to address the discrimination and systemic issues Transgender Day Of Visibility raises awareness of... this resolution must be accompanied by continued collaboration with our trans New Yorkers to achieve equitable housing, workforce development and education opportunities, and safety in this city."

He highlighted the need for the city to go beyond recognition of these days and take action, saying, "Recognizing the violence trans New Yorkers experience means we must commit to ending them. Uplifting the work and impact of trans New Yorkers means we must commit to expanding opportunities for the work and impact to be greater. We in New York have led the country in legal rights and services for transgender New Yorkers, but this should not invite complacency in our roles as leaders to find and address gaps in our duties."

The Public Advocate's full testimony is below.

TESTIMONY OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS

TO THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON CULTURAL AFFAIRS, LIBRARIES, AND INTERNATIONAL INTERGROUP RELATIONS

OCTOBER 26, 2021

Good Morning, my name is Jumaane D. Williams, and I am the Public Advocate for the City of New York. I want to thank Chairperson Van Bramer and the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations for holding this hearing on these three significant bills.

I am proud to sponsor Reso 1487, recognizing November 20 and March 31st as Transgender Day of Remembrance and Visibility respectively in the City of New York. This resolution has been the collaborative effort and work of our partners at the Office of the Public Advocate who consistently work with us to engage in every way we can to address the plight transgender New Yorkers experience. This resolution, a symbolic request, must be followed by a continued commitment from all our elected leaders to advocate for the trans community, particularly as we’ve seen the enactment and introduction of the most anti-trans legislation in our nation's history.

In 1999, trans advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith organize a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a Black trans woman in Boston, now remembered as ​an ebullient, glamorous, person, following her violent and unsolved murder on on November 28, 1998. Over two decades later, what we now know as transgender day of remembrance, or TDOR, annually gives name and history to the many transgender people worldwide who have similarly and tragically been murdered or died. Every year on November 20, organizations and organizers across the city gather to remember the lives of those we have lost each year. Each year remains a reminder that we all have to collectively work to seriously redress the unique and violent experiences of transgender and gender non-conforming New Yorkers.

We cannot say enough that without the leadership and organizing of so many trans people the civil rights of all our communities would not be where we are now. Yet, in response to the lacking positive recognition of this impact, trans activist Rachel Crandall launched International Transgender Day of Visibility. Now more than ever, increased visibility and organizing for trans lives remains crucial to address the discrimination and systemic issues TDOV raises awareness of. Earlier this year, President Biden followed suit in recognizing TDOV. While this is the opportunity to do so in New York, this resolution must be accompanied by continued collaboration with our trans New Yorkers to achieve equitable housing, workforce development and education opportunities, and safety in this city.

I will be the first to say that neither our partners or myself are satisfied with the work here, and believe our commitment must follow the passage of this resolution accordingly. Recognizing the violence trans New Yorkers experience means we must commit to ending them. Uplifting the work and impact of trans New Yorkers means we must commit to expanding opportunities for the work and impact to be greater. We in New York have led the country in legal rights and services for transgender New Yorkers, but this should not invite complacency in our roles as leaders to find and address gaps in our duties.

Thank you to all the members of the our Black trans women roundtable here at OPA and our partners who constantly show us what it means to support and uplift New York’s transgender, gender non-conforming and non-binary community.

Thank you Chair Van Bramer and the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations for your time and equal commitment to creating a safer and more uplifting New York for transgender and gender non-conforming people. I am grateful to sponsor this resolution and even more excited for the positive change to come. Thank you for holding this hearing and for the time.

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