Press Room

"Chag Kasher V'Sameach, a happy and Kosher holiday, to all in the Jewish community  celebrating as Passover begins tomorrow evening.

"As we are set to begin the second commemoration of Passover since the onset of the pandemic, I want to remind everyone that the danger has not passed. The public health crisis that has gripped our city and the globe is not over. I urge all to celebrate safely, in our homes and with our immediate families. I know that however each person honors this holy time in their home, it will be deeply meaningful.

"In celebrating Passover, in observing sacred traditions, we hear a story of the Israelites coming through a prolonged period of suffering, hardship, and deep pain. I know that these feelings resonate today, over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, and I know too that we will come through it. That in the spirit of Passover,  any obstacle can be overcome - with hope and resolve in equal measure. United and committed to one another even while apart, we await the miracle of redemption - ever progressing, moving forward, pursuing deliverance from our bonds and our trauma.

"I wish a peaceful, reflective, and safe Passover to all, and look to a future when we can once again gather in celebration next year. Chag Sameach."

"This deal is the result of not months, but years of work by legislators, and years more by advocates. Now, it appears that we may finally overcome the well-documented reluctance of the Governor and the disingenuous opposition from people and industries who benefit from the criminalization of communities of more color. As we await the final bill language, the legalization agreement as described reflects a commitment to addressing and undoing that harm by investing revenue from the new industry into the communities disproportionately impacted by decades of disparate policing, and expunging the records of those whose lives were ruined by a marijuana-related conviction.

"With the final budget deadline looming, this is not a time to relax or back down. We must continue to push to ensure that when the final passage is complete, and as the law is implemented, marijuana legalization means true marijuana justice."

Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams today urged city and state leadership to pause the impending reopenings currently planned for April, in order to slow the spread and help New York win the race between COVID-19 vaccines and variants. During a press conference on the issue held this morning with City Council Health Committee Chair Mark Levine and renowned epidemiologist Dr. Celine Gounder, Public Advocate Williams said:

"Right now, New York is in a race between vaccines and variants. It's neck and neck. And rushing to reopen, getting ahead of ourselves, will only help the virus get ahead of us in that race. In this moment, when the majority of new cases of COVID-19 in New York City come from highly contagious variants and only 14% of New Yorkers are fully vaccinated, we need to continue to scale up vaccination while scaling back these reopenings. 

"We've been behind throughout the pandemic, forced to be reactive and responsive, but we know what works, and we can win this race if we stay the course rather than declare premature victory. New Yorkers can do their part by getting vaccinated when eligible and adhering to health guidelines. Government can do theirs by keeping those guidelines in place, providing financial incentives to reduce the economic pain of restrictions, and averting the even greater pain that would come if viral spread led to even further shutdowns. I ask the Governor to stick to the science, trust the experts, and pause the planned reopenings now, before they take effect and more are infected."

Presently, several key reopenings are set to occur  in New York in the first week of April. On April 1, stadiums and large outdoor venues will be able to open to 20% capacity, and on the 2nd, art and entertainment venues can open to 33%. Curfews are set to be lifted on casinos, movie theaters, bowling alleys, billiards halls, and gyms and fitness centers on April 5.

Video of this morning's virtual press conference is available here.

"A comprehensive review of structural inequities and injustices is as critical as it is overdue, and I am hopeful that today's announcement will lead to not only reforming systems, but upending them. Commissions and task forces have mixed results, but are ultimately as strong or effective as they are empowered to be. I have great confidence in many of the individual members selected, and anticipation of the ideas they produce over the next several months. 

"Dismantling systems of structural racism is, clearly, an immense mandate, and as I commend the intention behind creating this commission, I look ahead to its potential recommendations and the courage it will take to enact them- particularly when there are only nine months left in this administration. No matter who the next Mayor is, I intend to be here to make sure that strong, equity-driven proposals are carried out.

"I also continue to believe that we need a codified task force centered on truth and reconciliation in racial injustice, one that lasts beyond one year or administration, and I continue to pursue legislation to that effect."

"I applaud the state legislators who have voted to HALT solitary, and extend my gratitude and congratulations to the advocates who have worked for years to bring us to this moment. I call on Governor Cuomo to immediately sign this legislation, despite his past refusal to enact similar reforms through executive authority.

"Solitary confinement is torture, and while this bill does not abolish it entirely, it will end prolonged solitary confinement and create more humane and effective alternatives, while still allowing true medical isolation. This year more than ever, New Yorkers should be empathetic to the negative physical and mental health impacts of social isolation, and the need to end it in our jails and prisons. Today marks a victory that will do real good for incarcerated individuals, a milestone in the movement to fundamentally shift our systems of injustice. 

"Now that HALT has passed on the state level, it becomes even more pressing to completely end solitary here in New York City - but the plan put forth this month by the Mayor toward this goal ignores or weakens several key recommendations from advocacy organizations long engaged in this work. While we push to revise and reshape this plan ahead of any potential implementation, it is also critical to amend and advance the pending Council legislation to abolish solitary confinement. We have a moral obligation to end solitary - which is torture for all and a death sentence for Layleen Polanco, Nicholas Feliciano, Kalief Browder, and too many others. And we have a governing obligation to end it not just in name, but in practice."

Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams called for expanded funding to the Department of Small Business Services in the coming city budget, and the prioritization of the unique needs of New York's small businesses, at a City Council executive budget hearing Wednesday afternoon. The Public Advocate noted that the proposed $103.9 million budget for the Department is reduced by $32.3 million, or 31 percent, from the current fiscal year, and raised several key areas in which proposed cuts would be deeply detrimental.

"I am concerned about the budget's priorities and lack thereof," said the Public Advocate. "For example, the absence of funding for Workforce1 Career Centers that provide job placement assistance and skill training referrals. By the end of December 2020, New York City's unemployment rate was 11 percent. The psychological toll of unemployment can be devastating, particularly for people of more color who have disproportionately lost jobs. People deserve not only a chance at employment, but also a boost. I am also concerned about the lack of funding to enforce Equal Employment Opportunity compliance and workforce diversity requirements."

Public Advocate Williams also discussed the need to pass his legislation, Intro. 1990, that would provide interest-free loans to small businesses, non-profits, and freelance workers ineligible for state assistance. The bill is part of his Renewed Deal for New York, which also highlights the need to uplift M/WBEs, another focus of the Public Advocate's remarks.

"Minority and women-owned businesses must also be prioritized in the City's recovery," he argued. "The proposed executive budget slightly increases economic and financial opportunities for M/WBEs from $8.31 million in fiscal year 2021 to $8.38 million in fiscal year 2022. Of course, I welcome it, however we need to ensure M/WBEs can easily access our City's contracts. That increase is almost negligible. The contracting process can be opaque and confusing for M/WBEs. There is no time to wait, these firms face numerous challenges that can be corrected through government intervention."

Read the full statement from the Public Advocate for today's hearing below.

TESTIMONY OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS TO THE COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS -

EXECUTIVE BUDGET HEARING

MARCH 17, 2021

Good afternoon,

Thank you so much Chair Gjonaj, much appreciated. Thank you to the commissioner for being here. As mentioned, my name is Jumaane D. Williams. I am the Public Advocate for the City of New York. I am thankful for the opportunity to give a statement this afternoon.

At this time last year, New York City shut down all activities because of COVID-19. We still saw high infection rates and death rates, particularly in communities of more color, despite limiting the virus' spread. The sudden closures also meant businesses needed to close, with no knowledge of when to reopen. Clearly, federal assistance would have been needed as businesses wait for the pandemic to pass. We could have incentivized people to stay closed.

One year after, the need among small businesses is as great, perhaps greater, than last year. Numerous small businesses across the City have permanently closed, and workers have lost their jobs in a fragile economy. Loss of income can have serious impacts for communities across the City. That is why a relief plan is needed for the City's recovery. 

The administration's proposed Preliminary Budget for the Department of Small Business Services for fiscal year 2022 is $103.9 million. This is down by $32.3 million or 31 percent from the current fiscal year. I understand that the City is making tough decisions because of the sudden budget shortfalls resulting from COVID-19. The pandemic and the resulting economic crisis has upended municipal budgets across the country.

Yet I am concerned about the budget's priorities and lack thereof. For example, the absence of funding for Workforce1 Career Centers that provide job placement assistance and skill training referrals. By the end of December 2020, New York City's unemployment rate was 11 percent. The psychological toll of unemployment can be devastating, particularly for people of more color who have disproportionately lost jobs. People deserve not only a chance at employment, but also a boost. 

I am also concerned about the lack of funding to enforce Equal Employment Opportunity compliance and workforce diversity requirements. Diversity at workplaces was an issue before the pandemic, and it may have been amplified because of it. We need to make sure employers are following EEO compliance as well as, for example, ensuring opportunities for people with disabilities. 

Frankly, we must exhaust all of our efforts to help small businesses. That requires creative thinking on our part, and I commend the commissioner for talking with businesses across the City in the past year to find solutions. We need to be both transparent and proactive to ensure small businesses and workers get the help they need.

Earlier this month, my Office released A Renewed Deal for New York City. In it, I offer solutions to help the City's businesses and workers. For example, the City should suspend or severely cap commercial rent, offer tax breaks and deferments, and minimize cuts to SBS. Moreover, tax incentives usually offered for wealth corporations should instead go toward our small businesses.

One of my bills, Intro. No. 1990, is another great example of what we can do. The bill provides interest-free loans to small businesses, non-profits, and freelance workers ineligible for state assistance. The commissioner would determine the specific details of the program, from the application process to potential forgiveness. The legislation is one of several solutions that is needed for one of the worst economic crises in the City's history. 

Finally, minority and women-owned businesses must also be prioritized in the City's recovery. The proposed executive budget slightly increases economic and financial opportunities for M/WBEs from $8.31 million in fiscal year 2021 to $8.38 million in fiscal year 2022. Of course, I welcome it, however we need to ensure M/WBEs can easily access our City's contracts. That increase is almost negligible. The contracting process can be opaque and confusing for M/WBEs. There is no time to wait, these firms face numerous challenges that can be corrected through government intervention. We need to level the playing field for historically disadvantaged firms. In general, the administration must ensure that the executive budget reflects the priorities of New Yorkers. Especially with the influx of money expected from the federal government.

I hope we change some of these numbers. It is not lost on me that we are decreasing the amount of many agency budgets, while increasing the NYPD's. That shouldn't be lost on anyone and the message that may send. Being a former small business owner who didn't quite make it like some others, I can only imagine what it would have been like during the pandemic. I worry that if we don't reflect the priority properly, we can anticipate discussion and potential budget changes as negotiations take place. I hope that happens. Thank you to the chair. I look forward to today's hearing.