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At The Legal Aid Society our Civil, Criminal Defense, Juvenile Rights, and Pro Bono practices work tirelessly in and out of the courtroom to defend our clients and dismantle the hidden, systemic barriers that can prevent them from thriving in New York City. We seek to be a beacon of hope for those who feel neglected —regardless of who they are, where they come from, or how they identify. Our experienced teams provide comprehensive services, support, and advocacy that protect rights, keep families and communities together, and in many cases, saves lives. We have an intrinsic connection to the daily lives of New Yorkers. Here are a few of the places we made a difference, provided context or added valuable perspective this week:
LAS wins suit ensuring incarcerated New Yorkers have access to COVID-19 vaccine
NYT: New York Must Offer Vaccine to All Prisoners Immediately, Judge Rules Altamont Enterprise: COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to open wide in New York State ABC News: New York must offer vaccine to inmates ‘immediately,’ judge rules Queens Daily Eagle: Bronx judge orders state to vaccinate inmates, reverse ‘unfair and unjust’ policy
LAS hails MRTA legislation on marijuana legalization
Associated Press: New York lawmakers agree to legalize recreational marijuana WNYT: New York lawmakers agree to legalize recreational marijuana Marijuana Moment: NY Marijuana Legalization Bill Is Officially Released AMNY: New York set to light up as lawmakers, Cuomo reach legal marijuana deal Democrat and Chronicle: New York to legalize recreational marijuana; vote expected within days NY Carib News: Agreement reached on legalization of recreational marijuana sales in New York Pix11: Criminal justice advocate calls NYS marijuana bill ‘the gold standard’ for legalization in U.S. Bronx12: Attorney: Passage of new bill could absolve New Yorkers convicted on marijuana charges El Diario: Cuomo y la Legislatura acuerdan legalizar la marihuana recreacional El Diario: ¿Podrán repararse años de criminalización a las minorías por el consumo de marihuana? CBS: New York Lawmakers To Start Process Of Legalizing Recreational Marijuana Courthouse News: Recreational Marijuana Legalized in New York Gizmodo: New York Legalizes Weed in Crackdown on the Racist Cop Epidemic NYDN: New York legalizes adult use marijuana, expunges former pot convictions News12: Hundreds of thousands of marijuana convictions to be expunged following pot legalization Amsterdam News: Marijuana legalization comes of New York: what’s next?
LAS applauds new restriction of police officer “qualified immunity”
Patch: Sweeping NYPD Reforms Pass City Council To Mixed Reviews CNN: NYPD officers are no longer protected from civil lawsuits The Root: New York City Council Approves Series of Police Reforms Brooklyn News 12: New York City Council votes to end qualified immunity for NYPD officers
More LAS in the news
Washington Square News: New York City has an obligation to vaccinate prisoners West Seneca Bee: Legal Aid files lawsuit to secure COVID-19 vaccine access for NYS prisoners New York Focus: Will Rental Vouchers to Prevent Homelessness Make the State Budget? Politico: Housing groups press state to extend eviction moratorium in absence of funding Queens Daily Eagle: Positive COVID test postpones first Queens jury trial of 2021 BKLYNER: Advocates Concerned State Housing Bill Could Hurt Industrial Business Zones NYLJ: Queens Trial Adjourned After Legal Aid Lawyer Tests Positive for COVID-19 Reuters: Tech issues hobble U.S. tenants fighting eviction in remote hearings The New Republic: How an UWS Hotel Came to Embody the City’s Failure on Homelessness The City: Tenants and Landlords’ Future Hang in Balance Over State Budget. NYDN: City wants NYPD disciplinary files in lawsuits over racial justice protests to remain secret West Side Rag: Tenants and Landlords’ Future Hang in the Balance Over State Budget. Amsterdam News: Police reforms locked in place, but nobody’s happy