New York City Council members, in a recently issued letter, called on the Adams Administration to appropriate $195 million in increased funding in the City’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget for local public defender organizations and housing Right to Counsel providers.

If unaddressed, insufficient funding levels, wage inequality, and rising costs will cause harm to New Yorkers who rely on these legally mandated legal services. In addition to funding, widespread contracting issues, including late contract registration, delayed payments, and lack of cost-of-living adjustments, have led to organizational instability.

To ensure that low-income New Yorkers in need of legal representation have access, New York City Council Members have called on Mayor Adams to support a budget increase for criminal defense and housing Right to Counsel providers, as well as an overhaul of the contracting and payment process. While more funding is necessary to fully fund these programs, this request is a critical first step in addressing the economic crisis facing these organizations.

“Our city prides itself on being a leader in the fight against injustice and human rights for all,” the letter reads in part. “Supporting a baseline budget increase for criminal defense and Right to Counsel providers, in addition to changes to contract flexibility, is an opportunity to ensure that low-income New Yorkers in need of legal representation have that access.”

“Public defenders and Right to Counsel providers play a central role in our legal system, providing low-income New Yorkers the due process and zealous representation that they deserve,” said Twyla Carter, CEO and Attorney-in-Chief of The Legal Aid Society.

“When our organizations are unfunded, it’s our clients, Black and Latinx New Yorkers, who suffer the consequences,” she continued. “Legal Aid lauds the City Council for standing with us and the communities we represent for increased funding in the City’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget.”