Press Room

“I commend the Speaker, Council Members Nurse and Rivera, and the entire City Council for taking this action to protect New Yorkers and ensure the administration complies with our laws – even ones the mayor opposes. Ending the harm of isolation is a moral and legal imperative. 

“The administration clearly has the resources to implement Local Law 42. Instead, they’re using those resources to try to preserve the status quo on Rikers. I had hoped that when the Council overrode the mayor’s veto with more votes than the bill was originally passed by, the mayor would work to implement the law and improve conditions on Rikers. There is still an opportunity for the administration to act in good faith, but the Council’s vote today provides a safeguard and path to enact that a policy overwhelmingly approved by lawmakers is carried out in city jails.”

NEW YORK: At a hearing this afternoon on a lawsuit filed on behalf of bus riders by Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams and the Transportation Workers Union of America (TWU) Local 100, State Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron issued a Temporary Restraining Order to restore recent cuts made to bus services in several boroughs. The dramatic reductions in service initiated by the MTA last week must now be reversed as the case moves forward.

This suit, which highlights the cost-cutting measures undertaken by the MTA since the last-minute “pause” of congestion pricing, is the first in a series to be filed in coordination with a coalition of transit riders, disabled commuters, and environmental advocates as part of a legal effort initiated by Comptroller Brad Lander. 

“This is a moment of victory in a much larger and longer movement,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams after the hearing. “Because of this order, New Yorkers will see buses back on the streets, resuming the routes that people rely on. The cuts in this case show the real, personal consequences of the Governor and MTA’s cancellation of congestion pricing and the revenue it would have raised. They need to be transparent about that impact, and about any cuts they make. In this instance, the MTA acted without adequate notice or process, and I am grateful that while the case moves forward, we have been able to mitigate this harm. I thank the TWU and all who are leading on this case and in the overall fight to get the funding we need for our city’s public transit.”

The lawsuit, filed yesterday in conjunction with TWU Local 100 and New York City transit riders, aims to establish injunctive relief from non-emergency, long-term reduction of bus service throughout the city. Roopdai Julie Davis, an 82-year-old resident of Kensington and daily bus rider, joined the suit as representative of the many New Yorkers who will suffer as a result of these cuts, particularly amid the dangers of a heat wave.

Cuts to service began without public notice on or about Friday, July 12. The New York State Public Authorities Law requires the MTA to give 30 days notice of any non-emergency bus service reduction to the NYC Mayor and Council. The MTA failed to provide such notice and allow for a public hearing by the Council on the cuts, also required by law, seemingly in its haste to account for the revenue lost by pausing congestion pricing. 

The next court date in this case will be September 24, with the Temporary Restraining Order in place and service cuts reversed in the interim.  

"Ten years ago this afternoon, Eric Garner was killed by Officer Daniel Pantaleo on a Staten Island street corner and on camera. In remembering Eric’s death, we honor his life as a father, son, husband, and a beloved member of our New York community whose life was needlessly taken by law enforcement.

"His last words, ‘I can’t breathe,' have become a rallying cry for justice, accountability, and reform, a refrain echoed in the wake of George Floyd’s death six years later, one which still resounds today. We should use this moment of reflection to examine the progress made since 2014 as well as the ongoing injustices we continue to face and fight. 

"Yesterday Mayor Adams said he hoped there would be ‘no Eric Garner situation’ under his administration. But just months ago, Win Rozario was killed by the NYPD, and justice was denied to the family of Kawaski Trawick. At the start of this year, the mayor vetoed our law which can help prevent encounters like Eric Garner’s from escalating, and attempted to convince the public that police transparency makes people less safe. These ‘situations’ will continue to happen as the city not only attempts to prevent better policing, but retreats from the progress of the last decade.

"I want to offer continued condolences and gratitude to Gwen Carr and the Garner family, who have turned their pain into purpose. They have shown immense strength and resilience in the face of profound loss, and I’m proud to be alongside them in the movement for lasting change and true justice. We cannot wait another day, let alone a decade, to make the changes that will prevent future tragedies."

"I am glad to see a budget agreement on time, and with many important initiatives intact. I thank the Council and the Speaker in particular, in partnership with advocates, for their relentless efforts to not only secure capital investment in key initiatives such as affordable housing, but to oppose austerity and preserve vital programs. Nowhere is this more clear than in our libraries and cultural institutions, and I am grateful that the final budget deal restores crucial funding in these areas. 

"At the same time, we should not let relief at undoing the administration’s unnecessary and high-profile cuts to libraries obscure the reality: there are still other unnecessary, less-visible cuts in this budget, and these will have an impact far beyond the fiscal year. I will continue to review the details of the budget deal for a wide range of agencies and issues.

"Finally, it should be clear that announcing services will be slashed, then reversing course months later, is not a sign of strong administrative management; it’s playing politics with programs that people depend on. We need to lead with fiscal and moral responsibility, consider the human cost of cuts, and move forward as strong stewards of not just the city’s finances, but the city’s people."

"Gun violence is and has been a public health emergency. I commend Surgeon General Murthy for recognizing the urgency and scope of this crisis, an American epidemic that spreads to our streets, supermarkets, homes, houses of worship, and more. This declaration also prescribes a pathway to addressing a plague which is now the leading cause of death among children in America.

"Like tobacco before it, America’s obsession with guns is pervasive, but not inevitable. By highlighting the need for enhanced research, improved safety measures, expanded mental health services, and stronger community engagement, this announcement promotes common sense, actionable measures that I and others have long advocated as part of a holistic approach to combating gun violence. New York knows the pain of each shooting, the tragedy and trauma on families and communities, and the Surgeon General’s call aligns with our ongoing efforts to create safer neighborhoods.

"As we approach the end of June’s Gun Violence Awareness Month, all levels of government must implement and expand on these life-saving measures. I am eager to work with local, state, and national leaders to implement effective strategies that turn these recommendations into reality."

Yesterday, New York’s State Supreme Court found that years after the statewide HALT Solitary law, state prisons continue to violate its provisions and hold people in solitary confinement for extended periods. At the same time, New York City is moving forward in the process of implementing Local Law 42, legislation from Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams which mandates an enforceable ban on the prolonged isolation associated with solitary confinement in city jails. At a hearing of the Board of Corrections this week, Public Advocate Williams spoke of the need to fully, faithfully, and speedily implement the law.

“Many try to mask the practice of isolation with euphemistic names like punitive segregation, but there is not much difference–it is very often solitary confinement," said Public Advocate Williams. "Prolonged isolation that looks like, feels like, and acts like solitary confinement—is solitary confinement. Physical isolation coupled with the lack of meaningful social interaction causes or exacerbates trauma, as well as other mental health issues. The law as passed provides guidelines on how detainees should be separated, when necessary, in a way to make both those housed and working in NYC jails, just a bit safer.”

The state case charged that despite the ban on prolonged isolation, officials were finding ways to circumvent the law in practice. Similarly, on a city level, reports indicate that while solitary is banned in name, practices of harmful isolation have continued. The Public Advocate’s legislation closes these loopholes, while allowing for separation and de-escalation when necessary.

The Adams administration has repeatedly attempted to prevent this law from taking effect. The mayor vetoed the legislation in January and was overwhelmingly overridden by the City Council. Now, the administration wants the court to prevent the implementation of the law. 

After the administration signaled its intent to seek court intervention, the Public Advocate declared “The administration clearly has the resources to implement the law. Instead, they’re using those resources to try to continue the capability of prolonged isolation and preserve the status quo on Rikers.

Before the Board on Monday, the Public Advocate stressed the importance of fully implementing the law, saying that “It is imperative that the Board ensure compliance with this law as written, as the administration has made clear that they do not wish to comply with Local Law 42, and have asked Judge Swain to halt implementation. Instead of trying to delay and circumvent their legal obligations to continue this deeply harmful practice, this administration should act immediately to implement this law.”

Read his full statement to the Board of Correction below. 

STATEMENT OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS TO THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF CORRECTION JUNE 18, 2024

Thank you so much, Good afternoon,

Peace and blessings, love and light to everyone. My name is Jumaane D. Williams, and I am the Public Advocate for the City of New York. I would like to thank the Chair and the Board of Correction for holding this meeting today, and for taking seriously the promulgation of rules related to implementing Local Law 42. I would also like to echo the Board’s request for adequate funding to fully staff their agency, as they will be an integral part of ensuring the implementation of the law. It is no small feat to reconcile the intentions of any new laws and the day to day practices of an agency like the Department of Corrections.  

I want to begin by calling solitary confinement what it is: torture. It is cruel. It is inhumane. It can ruin people’s lives, and too many do not survive it. I also want to make clear there’s been a lot of conversation about what that meant, and our law sought really to define what we see as solitary confinement which really focuses on the prolonged isolation of an individual. Many try to mask the practice of isolation with euphemistic names like punitive segregation, but there is not much difference–it is very often solitary confinement. Prolonged isolation that looks like, feels like, and acts like solitary confinement—is solitary confinement. Physical isolation coupled with the lack of meaningful social interaction causes or exacerbates trauma, as well as other mental health issues. The law as passed provides guidelines on how detainees should be separated, when necessary, in a way to make both those housed and working in NYC jails, just a bit safer.

People who experience isolation in jails and prisons suffer socially, mentally, emotionally, and financially, both while incarcerated and after release. No one leaves solitary confinement whole. They struggle with the lasting effects of trauma and are disproportionately more likely to die by suicide or homicide. They are also at increased risk for homelessness and substance use: a 2019 North Carolina study found that survivors of solitary confinement were 127 times more likely to die from an opioid overdose within two weeks of their release.

That is why we are here today discussing Local Law 42, which bans the harmful experience of prolonged isolation in New York City’s jails—a law the City Council passed with a supermajority, and then overrode a mayoral veto with an even higher majority, not to mention with widespread public and community support. It is imperative that the Board ensure compliance with this law as written, as the administration has made clear that they do not wish to comply with Local Law 42, and have asked Judge Swain to halt implementation. Instead of trying to delay and circumvent their legal obligations to continue this deeply harmful practice, this administration should act immediately to implement this law. And again, really focus on how to keep everyone safe, corrections officers, people who work in the jails, and particularly, the detainees who are under the care of the Department of Corrections. Thank you again for really taking this seriously. And I appreciate your time. 

Thank you.