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 secures court order to reopen NYS rent relief portal

AP: New York to reopen rent aid applications, halted since Nov.
Gothamist: Judge Orders State to Reopen Rent Relief Application Process
The Real Deal: State has 3 days to reopen rent relief portal: judge
Crain’s: New York must reopen rent-relief portal within 3 days, judge rules
Law360: Judge Orders NY To Reopen Pandemic Rental Aid Portal
NYDN: Judge orders New York’s COVID rent relief program to reopen applications

LAS praises DA Bragg’s decision not to charge for minor offenses

CNN: Manhattan district attorney announces he won’t prosecute certain crimes
CBS: Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg Says His Office Won’t Prosecute Fare Evasion, Resisting Arrest
Washington Post: New Manhattan DA wants to stop prosecuting some offenses
Gothamist: Manhattan DA Bragg Tells Staff to Stop Prosecuting Certain Offenses
Patch: Manhattan DA Won’t Prosecute Slew Of Minor Crimes

LAS demands decarceration as Omicron surges in City jails

NYDN: COVID cases surge in city jails, with seven-day positive test rate hitting 37%
El Diario: Rikers Island Covid-19 Cases Surpass Record 37% Positivity Rate
NYDN: Senators Schumer and Gillibrand ask Biden, DOJ to fix ongoing crisis at Rikers Island

LAS lauds Governor Hochul for enacting Raise the Lower Age Legislation

Gothamist: NY Will No Longer Prosecute Children Under The Age Of 12
Politico: Hochul signs measure raising minimum age of juvenile delinquency
NYLJ: Hochul Signs Law Raising Minimum Age for Nonhomicide Arrest and Prosecution

More LAS in the news

NYT: Can Adams Rebuild, and Rein In, a Notorious N.Y.P.D. Unit?
NYDN: COVID cases surge in NYC courts: ‘Everyone who is entering these spaces is getting sick’
NYN Media: Reforms for vulnerable New Yorkers round out Legal Aid’s 2022 legislative agenda
The City: End to Eviction Moratorium Will Stress-Test Tenants’ Right to a Lawyer
QDE: Hochul promises new rail line in Queens during State of State address
Law360: NY To Receive Fraction Of $1B Rent Aid Request, Court Told
Politico: New York receives far less federal rental aid than requested
NPR: Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance reflects on Trump and Weinstein cases as he leaves office
El Diario: Gobernadora otorga el perdón a 10 inmigrantes
Crain’s New York: Rent Relief Portal Likely to Stay Closed Following Paltry New Fed Funds
AMNY: Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg unveils new legal leadership team focused on ‘safety, justice’
The City: Hochul Signals Aim to Let Eviction Moratorium Expire, Albany Sources Say
Gothamist: Tenants Look to Albany as Eviction Moratorium is Set to Expire
Queens Daily Eagle: Public Defenders decry OCA decision to forge ahead in person