Press Room

Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams and Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams called on the United States Department of Justice today to open a civil rights investigation into the city and state's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic which has led to deep racial disparities - first in rates of infection and death, and now in access to vaccination. The two elected leaders first made this call with a group of local officials from across the country in 2020, but it was largely ignored by the Department of Justice under Donald Trump. This new ask renews the original request, now calling for the Biden administration to take action.

This week, it was revealed that the FBI and US Attorney's Office in Brooklyn are currently probing the Cuomo administration's policies and practices concerning nursing homes during the first months of the pandemic. The Public Advocate and Borough President's request is for an additional investigation, or an expansion in its scope, to probe actions by city and state leaders that may constitute civil rights violations, including "the failed decisions and systemic inequities that led to the disparate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color." He further discussed the renewed request in a Wednesday press conference with Council Members Adrienne Adams and I. Daneek Miller, co-Chairs of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus in the City Council. Video is available here

"We are asking the Department of Justice, under new leadership and with new mandate, to investigate the systemic failures and misguided decisions that have led to disparate harm in communities of more color throughout the city and state," said Public Advocate Williams. "We make this new call with the same moral obligation and with renewed moral outrage at the arrogance that leaders like Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio  continue to show in making dangerous, misguided decisions and refusing to face the consequences."

Across the country, communities of more color are seeing a disproportionate and deadly impact of the coronavirus outbreak, a result of policy decisions and longstanding systemic inequities. Nationwide, Black and Hispanic individuals are roughly 3x as likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than white persons, and twice as likely to be killed.

Now, the rollout of vaccinations in New York has seen similarly egregious and inexcusable levels of disparity, with preliminary data showing Black and Brown New Yorkers vaccinated at a rate roughly half their population share. Newly released data by zip code shows that in New York City, wealthier and whiter communities have a much greater percentage of adults vaccinated than communities of more color.

Wednesday, new data revealed that life expectancy in the United States in the first half of 2020 dropped by a year overall, but by 2.7 years for Black Americans, driven by these inequities in COVID-19 impact.

In a letter, Public Advocate Williams and Borough President Adams implored the Department of Justice to investigate these issues, find any wrongdoing, and "show our constituents and the American public that awareness of inequities is not enough. We must act and bring those accountable for these inequities to justice."

The original submission to the Department of Justice further detailing the request can be found here.

"I'm pleased to announce that after an expedited process to ensure compliance with city regulations, I can today voluntarily recognize the Organized Advocates Staff Union within the Office of the Public Advocate, with dozens of members of our staff now represented by the Campaign Workers Guild.

"From the beginning of this process, I've been proud to support the unionization effort, and look forward to the next steps in ensuring fair representation. Our office has been committed to advancing the cause of worker justice throughout the city since I was first elected to this position two years ago, and it is crucial to reflect those values within our own workplace as well."

Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams called for passage of a bill aimed at protecting water quality and ensuring sanitary water supply for New Yorkers at a hearing of the Committee on Environmental Protection today. The bill would increase the monetary penalties to be imposed on a building owner or operator who fails to comply with installation and reporting requirements for water backflow prevention devices.

"Backflow prevention devices stop contamination from entering New York City water. Without them, bacteria, such as salmonella, can spread into water pipes. For businesses such as laundromats, food processing plants, supermarkets, and large residential dwellings, this is pretty dangerous," said Public Advocate Williams at the hearing. "Anyone can experience serious harm, so contamination must be avoided at all costs. This is both an environmental issue and a public health issue."

Under the legislation, Intro. 1576, for failure to install the device, the civil penalty would be $1,000-10,000 and the criminal fine would be $2,000-10,000.  For failure to file an annual report, the civil penalty would be $700-10,000 and the criminal fine would be $1,400-10,000. Backflow prevention devices stop contaminated water from re-entering the main supply, and required for certain properties by state law. This city legislation was originally sponsored by then-Council Member Donovan Richards, now the Queens Borough President.

There were 1,540 violations in 2018 for failing to install a backflow prevention device, according to DEP, and 8,780 violations for not filing a report. In 2019, The New York City Department of Environmental Protection estimated there were 76,472 facilities in the City that require one or more backflow prevention devices. Notably, 45,093, or roughly 59 percent, are considered hazardous facilities.

The Public Advocate noted that "At the Committee's June 25th, 2018 hearing, it was said that these prevention devices can cost anywhere between $3,000 to $20,000. Therefore, if fines are lower, then the owner or operator can just accept the fine as the cheaper option. ," saying "The legislation would eliminate that with steeper penalties and fines." In addition, he expressed support for a bill from Chair Constantinides to amend the sustainable energy loan program, Intro. 2170, which was also discussed at today's hearing, saying "Energy efficiency may be costly for some building owners, so there must be assistance for everyone who is interested in energy efficiency."

Read the full statement from the Public Advocate for today's hearing below, or download it here.

TESTIMONY OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS  TO THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION - HEARING FEBRUARY 16, 2021 Good morning,

My name is Jumaane D. Williams, and I'm the Public Advocate for the City of New York. Once again, thanking the chair Costa Constantinides for holding today's hearing.

Our City must do more to address environmental injustice. The longer we wait to correct these problems, the worse off communities, particularly communities of color, will be. I'm proud that one of my first four bills in my first term actually had to do with environmental justice. I'm glad to see these communities get stronger in pushing these concerns. Therefore, we need to be aggressive and proactive in offering solutions. The bills before the Committee today are examples of that. 

My bill, Intro. No. 1576, first introduced by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, would increase penalties for a building owner or an operator failing to install and report on water backflow prevention devices. Failure to either install the device or annually report on tests could mean either a significantly higher civil penalty or criminal fine. 

Backflow prevention devices stop contamination from entering New York City water. Without them, bacteria, such as salmonella, can spread into water pipes. For businesses, such as laundromats, food processing plants, supermarkets, and large residential dwellings, this is pretty dangerous. Anyone can experience serious harm, so contamination must be avoided at all costs. This is both an environmental issue and a public health issue.

In 2019, The New York City Department of Environmental Protection estimated there were 76,472 facilities in the City that require one or more backflow prevention devices. Notably, 45,093, or roughly 59 percent, are considered hazardous facilities. Therefore, a device must be installed and annually reported on with no excuse. Otherwise, the risks can be severe for occupants, customers, or workers. 

There were 1,540 violations in 2018 for failing to install a backflow prevention device, according to DEP. The number of violations for not filing a report is even higher at 8,780. This is why the legislation is necessary. These prevention devices are vital for New Yorkers. This cannot be done out of convenience. It is a requirement. There are steep penalties for those who do not follow this law.

There is an additional concern with the existing penalties and fines. At the Committee's June 25th, 2018 hearing, it was said that these prevention devices can cost anywhere between $3,000 to $20,000. Therefore, if fines are lower, then the owner or operator can just accept the fine as the cheaper option. The legislation would eliminate that with steeper penalties and fines. New Yorkers must be guaranteed protection, and this bill ensures that. 

I anticipate administration support today for the bill to send a message of accountability. We cannot accept failure to submit an annual report or failure to install these prevention devices. New Yorkers must be given assurances that their health is prioritized.

Finally, I just want to join in supporting the chair's Intro. No. 2170 to amend the sustainable energy loan program to improve energy efficiency in New York City. Any opportunity to do so is useful and reiterates the City's commitment to make a greener New York City.  Energy efficiency may be costly for some building owners, so there must be assistance for everyone who is interested in energy efficiency.

Overall, the bills represent our commitment for a cleaner, safer New York City. I thank the chair again for both allowing me to speak and for co-sponsoring my legislation and of course for his leadership on all of these issues. I look forward to today's testimony.

Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams released the following statement in response to revelations that the Cuomo administration deliberately withheld information about the true toll of COVID-19 in nursing homes in order to avoid an investigation by the Department of Justice.

"The new revelations about both the facts and motivations behind covering up the true toll of the state's mismanagement of nursing homes amid this pandemic are appalling. In trying to avoid Donald Trump's wrath, the Governor instead imitated him.

"In the face of the pandemic, Governor Cuomo asked for and received unprecedented powers to make complex decisions, and he has used them to sideline health advisers, subvert oversight, and shield himself from liability for decisions that have cost New Yorkers' lives. Not only has he skirted accountability, he has avoided even an apology to those who have lost family members as a result of decisions he made. His current rush to reopen amid emerging variants and disparate vaccination distribution- combined with past errors at the onset of the pandemic that made New York the epicenter of the epicenter- further demonstrates the consequences of his unchecked, unrepentant authority.

"Many months ago, I joined Borough President Eric Adams and a coalition of elected officials from across the country in calling for a Department of Justice investigation of city and state responses to the COVID-19 pandemic-- because justice must be pursued, regardless of party. I repeat that call now, under a new federal administration but out of the same moral obligation and with renewed moral outrage at the arrogance the Governor continues to show in making dangerous, misguided decisions and refusing to face the consequences."

Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams released the following statement one month before the start of ballot access petitioning for 2021 candidates in New York City, calling for executive action to prevent the mass collection of signatures amid the pandemic. He has previously called on the Mayor to implement emergency actions.

"A month from today, in dozens of races, hundreds of candidates may be required to send thousands of volunteers to have in-person contact with hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers in order to collect signatures and access the 2021 ballot. The repercussions of this requirement are immense, a superspreader event drawn out across weeks and across the city. We cannot in good conscience or good governance go forward not only allowing the spread of COVID-19, but mandating it. 

"The new state legislation reducing the number of signatures necessary appears well-intentioned but insufficient, as it will still mandate countless contacts while compressing the timeline and condensing collection. As I have urged the Mayor and Governor, executive action is required to either drastically limit the number of signatures needed, or institute an alternative metric for ballot access, such as small-donor support. This is a moment that demands responsible leadership. With positivity rates high and vaccination rates low, it would be reckless and irresponsible for the people currently in elected office to require the people seeking it to risk massive viral spread in order to collect what could ultimately amount to contact tracing lists."

Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams released the following statement after it was announced that 227 Duffield Street in Brooklyn, the home of noted abolitionists Harriet and Thomas Truesdell, would be preserved and designated as a landmark, 227 Abolitionist Place, in recognition of its place in the history of the Abolitionist movement.

"I applaud the designation of 227 Duffield as a landmark, for which my office has advocated and which is crucial to commemorating a piece of the history of the Black experience in New York City, as well as understanding that history and its relevance in modern context.  Just as it was vital several years ago to acknowledge and designate the shameful history of our city's slave market at Wall Street, we must preserve and uplift our role in the Abolitionist movement. 

"It is a history woefully underrepresented throughout the five boroughs, but one that can be reclaimed and remembered. 227 Abolitionist Place, home of the Truesdells, is a major victory, but we must expand on this progress and preserve other sites in the Abolitionist movement, such as the home of renowned abolitionist Dennis Harris at 857 Riverside Drive - which is facing imminent demolition. This is a moment to establish and educate New Yorkers on a fuller understanding of the city's historical role in slavery and modern mandate around systemic oppression and racial injustices."

First Deputy Public Advocate Nick E. Smith testified during a July 2020 hearing of the Landmarks Preservation Commission to argue for the designation. His full testimony is below and can be downloaded here. TESTIMONY OF FIRST DEPUTY PUBLIC ADVOCATE NICK E. SMITH  TO THE NEW YORK CITY LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION JULY 14, 2020 Good morning, My name is Nick E. Smith, First Deputy Public Advocate, representing our city's Public Advocate, Jumaane D. Williams. I would like to thank the Landmarks Preservation Commission for holding this very important hearing on the proposed designation of 227 Duffield, or 227 Abolitionist Place, the house that belonged to abolitionists, Harriet and Thomas Truesdell, from 1851 to 1863.  In light of the recent activism against police brutality and racism, it has become clear that much of our country's history is left out of the curriculum that is traditionally learned in school. So it is our responsibility to preserve the parts of our history that we did not learn about in the classroom, especially the important figures in Black history, like the Truesdells, who so greatly impacted the fight for racial equality. The Truesdells were well-known abolitionists in New England before moving to Brooklyn. Harriet served on the organizing committee of the Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women, and she was also the treasurer of the Providence Ladies Anti-Slavery Society. Thomas was a founding member of the Rhode Island Anti-Slavery Society. The couple moved to Brooklyn Heights in 1838, and then to Duffield Street in 1851, where their abolitionist work continued. The Truesdells dedicated their life to ending slavery, during a time when helping escaped slaves was illegal and could lead to prison sentences and fines. Interestingly enough, there have been many accounts of Duffield Street being a site where stops on the Underground Railroad were located, one stop in particular being the Truesdells' house.  Social justice advocates have said that a previous owner of the property would bring children into the underground tunnels that connected the houses on the block to show them their historical significance.  Although the Truesdells have left an indelible mark on the abolitionist movement, the effort to preserve their home as a historic landmark has met its fair share of challenges. In May of 2004, the City Planning Commission, under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, published a rezoning plan to develop Downtown Brooklyn, and change the site into an unattended parking garage. Joy Chatel, more affectionately known as "Mama Joy," who owned the property at the time until her transition in 2014, had filed a lawsuit in conjunction with Families United for Racial and Economic Equality - also known as FUREE - and Brooklyn Legal Services to contest the City's efforts to acquire the property through eminent domain. The Bloomberg Administration settled the lawsuit to coname the street "Abolitionist Place" and invest $2 million to pay homage to the abolitionist activity by 2010. In June of last year, the Economic Development Corporation announced they would be expanding the current Willoughby Square, which is located between Duffield Street and Gold Street, and hiring artists to design a memorial commemorating the abolitionist movement. A memorial is great, but it is not enough. However, the property has yet to be landmarked. Last year, the Public Advocate signed a letter of support for this designation, aftering being contacted by advocates. We have to acknowledge the late Mama Joy's work, and that of FUREE, to preserve this history.  Years ago, the Public Advocate, his council colleagues and advocates advanced legislation to establish a marker at Water and Wall Street, where black people were bought and sold in an open market. The Public Advocate worked with the Administration to erect the marker without needing to pass the bill. The marker now stands at that historic site. Just like we've acknowledged that history, designating this property would be yet another crucial commemoration of the black experience in America. The legacy of slavery exists today. We are currently at a critical point in our City's history. Now is the time to ensure that we safeguard the history of victims of chattel slavery especially when that history has changed the course of our country for the better. Making the home of Harriet and Thomas Truesdell a landmark is essential to acknowledging and preserving an important part of Black history.  Thank you.