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 communitiess together, and in many cases, changes 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 mourns the death of client Vincent Thoms

New York Daily News: Harlem Man Dies While in NYPD Custody for Stealing Incense From CVS
Gothamist: Harlem Man Dies in Custody After Shoplifting Arrest, NYPD and Court Records Say
amNY: Manhattan Suspect Dies After Medical Emergency in Police Custody While Being Booked
WPIX-TV: NYC Man Arrested for Shoplifting Died in NYPD Custody
Our Town: Shoplifting Suspect Dies in NYPD Custody While Awaiting Arraignment
WPIX-TV: Man, 39, Dies in Custody at Rikers Island Jail
Hoodline: Rikers Death Spurs Mamdani’s Renewed Push to Shut Jail
El Diario: Hombre murió tras ser arrestado en tienda CVS en Nueva York

LAS demands rent freeze for tenants in stabilized units

Crain’s: Rent-stabilized landlords’ net income rose 6.2% as Mamdani pushes for rent freeze
AMNY: Mamdani-era rent board opens with report showing landlord income gains
El Diario: Alcalde Mamdani cambia promesa electoral y reta al Concejo Municipal

More LAS in the news

amNY: No More 24 Act expected to pass mid-April, protesters vow daily sit-in until then
Queens Daily Eagle: Mayor unveils Office of Community Safety
The Real Deal: Pinnacle tenants didn’t stop the sale. But they’re trying to push repairs.
Hoodline: Rats, Ruin, and a Broken Deal: Inwood Tenants drag landlord back to bankruptcy court
City Journal: The Alternative Reality of Homelessness Policy
City Journal: Mamdani’s Office of Community Safety Won’t Change Much
Gothamist: Mamdani Fights Rental Assistance Expansion, Continuing Clash With NYC Council
THE CITY: Mamdani Vowed to Expand Housing Vouchers. He’s Appealing a Court Order to Do So.
amNewYork: Mamdani Appeals CityFHEPS Lawsuit, Breaking Campaign Promise to Drop Suit
THE CITY: Thousands of New Yorkers at Risk of Losing Funds for Rent With No Fix in Sight
Queens Daily Eagle: Public Defenders Say $100M Boost Needed to Prevent Attorney Shortage
NYDN: Mamdani Defends U-Turn on Rental Assistance Program
City Limits: Mamdani Appeals in Rental Voucher Expansion
Patch: Mamdani Reverses Campaign Promise, Appeals NYC Rental Aid Expansion
Crain’s: Mamdani Sides With Budget Hawks in Fight Over Housing Voucher Program
The Real Deal: Mamdani Makes About-Face, Appeals Housing Voucher Expansion
El Diario: Trabajadores de salud domiciliario no bajan la guardia para exigir el fin de la jornada
Politico: NY Playbook: Rebuffing Buffer Zones