Press Room

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.

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams today called on the state legislature to pass a bill aimed at ending worker exploitation and subminimum wages based on age or disability. At a City Council hearing of the Committee on Civil Service and Labor this afternoon, he urged the Council to adopt his resolution in support of the state bill, and highlighted the abuses permitted through loopholes in current state law.

The Public Advocate’s resolution calls for the passage of State Senate Bill S28/Assembly Bill A1006, which would address longstanding issues established under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Originally intended to prevent hiring discrimination against workers with disabilities by permitting a subminimum wage, the law has been used to perpetuate unsustainable wages and abuses by some companies against their workforce. As of 2019, more than half of workers employed by organizations possessing a subminimum wage certificate earned less than $3.50 an hour, some as little as 22 cents an hour, a “brazen abuse of a legal loophole in the FLSA.”

“The FLSA is more than 85 years old, and with it comes provisions that may be arguably antiquated…” argued Public Advocate Williams in support of his resolution. “...While the intent of the subminimum wage was to ensure job opportunities for people with disabilities, it does not entirely account for the loopholes employers would go through to pay employees as little as possible for their work. Everyone deserves to seek and obtain dignified employment and be compensated fairly. It is time New York steps up and rids itself of this nearly-century-old ableist provision.”

Approximately 11% of the City’s total population live with some type of disability, and approximately 26% of adults in the State live with disabilities. The Public Advocate himself has Tourette Syndrome, and has long worked for equitable practices to support the disability community and workers in our city.

“It is time the State Legislature gets it to the finish line,” said the Public Advocate about the bill, “And I urge my colleagues to support my resolution to push for its passage.”

The Public Advocate’s full comments at the hearing are below.

STATEMENT OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS TO THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE AND LABOR

JANUARY 27, 2025

Good afternoon,

Thank you so much Madame Chair, really appreciate it, welcome everyone. Thank you for giving me the opportunity. As mentioned My name is Jumaane D. Williams and I am the Public Advocate for the City of New York. Thank you to Chair De La Rosa and members of the Committee on Civil Service and Labor for holding this hearing and for allowing me to share my statement.

Today, I am speaking in support of Resolution 0333-2024, which I reintroduced this legislative session. The resolution calls on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign State Senate Bill S28 (by Senator Skoufis) and its companion, State Assembly Bill A1006 (Assemblymember Steck). It would eliminate the subminimum wage for employees based on their disability or age. The bill goes as far back as 2017, and has been reintroduced every session since it is a matter of equity that the State of New York needs to address. It is time the State Legislature gets it to the finish line, and I urge my colleagues to support my resolution to push for its passage.

Presently, there are provisions outlined by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that provide for the employment of individuals with disabilities at wage rates below the statutory minimum (otherwise known as the minimum wage). The intent of such a provision is to prevent employers from deciding against the hiring of individuals based on characteristics such as having a disability. Employers could receive a subminimum wage certificate from the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor. Despite an effort to encourage the hiring of individuals with disabilities, the real life application of the provision still leads to major pay discrepancies and unfair treatment in the workplace.

According to the United States Government Accountability Office, since 2019, more than half of workers employed by organizations possessing a subminimum wage certificate earned less than $3.50 an hour. In a report from NBC News, Goodwill Industries paid some workers with disabilities as little as 22 cents an hour, a brazen abuse of a legal loophole in the FLSA and a showcase of how the company undervalues its workers.

Senate Bill S28/Assembly Bill A1006 would eliminate these provisions, allowing New York to finally join the 18 other states that have passed legislation that has or will end subminimum wagework for people with disabilities. The legislation would also impact both New York City and State, as both have a significant population of residents living with disabilities. Approximately 11% of the City’s total population live with some type of disability, and approximately 26% of adults in the State live with disabilities. Researchers estimate that there are around 1,400 workers paid a subminimum wage, with a large portion of them classified as individuals with disabilities

The FLSA is more than 85 years old, and with it comes provisions that may be arguably antiquated. Enacted during the middle of World War II, the FLSA went into effect when the country experienced financial constraints and a shortage of the then-current workforce because of the draft for military service. While the intent of the subminimum wage was to ensure job opportunities for people with disabilities, it does not entirely account for the loopholes employers would go through to pay employees as little as possible for their work. Everyone deserves to seek and obtain dignified employment and be compensated fairly. It is time New York steps up and rids itself of this nearly-century-old ableist provision. I ask my colleagues to support my Resolution to push our State Legislators to finally do so

Thank you, Chair for hearing this piece of legislation as well, thank you.

With temperatures expected to be in the single digits in New York City today, Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams unveiled his annual Worst Landlord Watchlist, spotlighting and shaming the worst landlords in the city as determined by widespread and repeated violations in their buildings. 

Violations, as compiled and categorized by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, can include issues such as heat and hot water outages, rodent infestation issues, and collapsing infrastructure. At this time of year, heat and hot water outages account for a large proportion of violations, threatening the safety of New Yorkers facing extreme cold. This can lead to unsafe usage of space heaters in buildings, sparking deadly fires like those we have seen in the Bronx. Ved Parkash, landlord of the building that last week and displaced over 200, once topped the Worst Landlord Watchlist. 

The #1 Worst Landlord in the city is Barry Singer, who tops the list with an average of 1804 open violations across his buildings on the list for the period ending in November of 2024. While this is Singer’s first time topping the Public Advocate’s list, he has a long, documented history of egregious neglect and misconduct dating back decades.

Singer’s buildings have also been the subject of numerous heat complaints. Over the eight months of the heat season included in this year’s list, Singer received 121 heat/hot water complaints over his seven buildings on the list. In the same period, there were a total of 832 heat and hot water complaints at the buildings on the list owned by the ten worst landlords in the city.

“While the worst landlords in the city raise the rents instead of the temperature, tenants are being left in the cold,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams in releasing the list. “The people on this list are at best dangerously negligent, and at worst, actively choosing to profit off the pain of New Yorkers living in unsafe, deplorable conditions. Last year’s worst landlord has been to jail twice since the list was published, a clear message to owners of what their tenants deserve, and the consequences of their inaction. This list is a way to turn up the heat on bad actors so that we can get real accountability and change.”

The top five landlords on this year’s list are:

• Barry Singer, with an average of 1,804 HPD open violations
• Alfred Thompson, with an average of 1,285 HPD open violations 
• Karen Geer, with an average of 1,193 HPD open violations
• Melanie Martin, with an average of 1,132 HPD open violations 
• Claudette Henry, with an average of 1,130 HPD open violations 

View the full list of the 100 Worst Landlords, as well as the worst buildings in each borough, here. 

Issues with conditions broadly, and heat specifically, are not only among private landlords. The New York City Housing Authority has demonstrated an inability to improve conditions, and as of Tuesday afternoon, there were unplanned interruptions of heat or hot water at 4 developments, covering over 6,600 residents. In December of 2024, there were about 611,000 open work orders, an increase of over 35,000 from the previous year. Perpetual mismanagement of NYCHA and an inability to keep the heat on makes the city itself the worst overall landlord for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers.

Last year’s Worst Landlord, Daniel Ohebshalom, has been incarcerated twice since the 2023 list was released. This year’s #4 landlord, Melanie Martin, is head officer for much of Ohebshalom’s portfolio, much like last years #1 on the list, Jonathan Santana. As part of this year’s launch, the Public Advocate pushed for legislation that would enhance transparency of ownership to prevent these kinds of tactics.

To unveil the list, the Public Advocate held a virtual press conference, which can be seen here, before traveling to meet with tenants in a worst landlord building. Photos will be available here. He also directed New Yorkers to go to LandlordWatchlist.com to learn about whether their landlords are featured on the list, how to report violations, and access resources for tenants to organize and seek relief.

“Too often, in the face of this neglect, we are frozen. Whether the heat is out or not, we feel powerless. And I want New Yorkers to know that we do have power,” said Public Advocate Williams. “This week we celebrate one of the greatest organizers  of all time, including for housing justice, Dr. King. In his spirit and legacy, my office is committed to helping tenants organize and get what they demand and deserve. The Watchlist is a tool meant to inspire tenant organizing. We can’t sit frozen any longer, we need to get moving.”

This is the sixth Worst Landlord Watchlist from Public Advocate Williams, who is pursuing legislative solutions to the issues presented by the list, including the ‘Worst Landlord Law,’ which passed in 2023. A second bill, which is yet to pass, would require HPD to more quickly respond to and perform inspections of hazardous violations. Private landlords on the Worst Landlord Watchlist are ranked objectively according to data obtained by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Landlords are ranked based on the average number of housing code violations open per month on their buildings on the watchlist, using data from December 2023 to November 2024. More on the methodology is available here.

View the full Worst Landlord Watchlist, and check to see if your address is owned by a 2024 worst landlord, by visiting LandlordWatchlist.com.