At The Legal Aid Society our Civil, Criminal Defense, Juvenile Rights, and Pro Bono practices work tirelessly in and out of thecourtroom 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 reaffirms need for receivership of City jails

NYT: Judge Should Consider Contempt of Court Action Over Rikers, Monitor Says
NYDN: Federal monitor backs holding NYC in contempt for failure to prevent violence on Rikers
Associated Press: NYC should be held in contempt over conditions in Rikers Island jail
The City: Rikers Jail Monitor Pushes for Contempt Order Over ‘Pervasive Dysfunction’
Gothamist: Adams administration should be held in contempt for Rikers conditions
Law360: ‘Patently Unsafe’: Latest Report Details Violence At NYC Jails
Queens Daily Eagle: Rikers Monitor Says City Should be Held in Contempt
NY1: Federal monitor wants city held in contempt over Rikers violence
CBS2: Rikers Island still not in compliance with several court orders, federal monitor reports
Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Rikers’ Deadly Toll: Inmate Deaths and Court Reports Ignite Calls for Reform

LAS mourns the loss of former client Ricky Howell

NYDN: Cancer-stricken man becomes fifth to die this year in NYC jails
Gothamist: Detainee stricken with cancer dies in city custody after SI courts refused his release
Patch: Terminally Ill Rikers Island Inmate 5th To Die in 2023: DOC
1010WINS: Patient is 5th to die in NYC jails, advocates say he never should have been imprisoned
NEWS12: Officials: Death at Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward is 5th in DOC custody this year
NYP: Cancer-stricken inmate dies at prison ward – 5th New Yorker to die in city custody this year
SI Advance: Staten Island defendant succumbs to cancer while jailed at Bellevue
Queens Daily Eagle: Detainee Diagnosed with Cancer Dies in DOC Custody
Amsterdam News: Two die in DOC custody last week including 4th Rikers-related death
NYT: Tracking the Deaths in New York City’s Jail System

LA lauds City Council override on housing voucher reforms

NY1: City Council overrides mayor’s housing legislation veto
NEW12: City Council overrides Mayor Adams’ veto on housing bill package
ABC7: New York City Council overrides Mayor Eric Adams’ veto on housing voucher bills
Patch: NYC City Council Overrides Mayor’s Veto Of Housing Bills
City Limits: NYC Council Overrides Veto in Order to Expand Rental Vouchers
Gothamist: NYC Council is preparing to quash Mayor Adams’ veto. But the fight could drag on
NYDN: NYC Mayor Adams claims victory on housing vouchers with Council poised to override veto
AMNY: Mayor floats legal challenge if Council overrides his veto and passes housing voucher bills
El Diario: Alcalde Adams revela aumento en traslado de desamparados a hogares permanentes 

LAS warns NYCHA’s demolition plan will lead to permanent displacement

City Limits: Questions Arise About Voting Process in NYCHA Demo Plan
The City: NYCHA Now Needs $78 Billion to Fix Up Aging Buildings
Gothamist: Public housing residents balk at plans to demolish and rebuild Chelsea NYCHA complex

More LAS in the news

NY1 Inside City Hall: LAS attorney talks about new report detailing conditions on Rikers Island
Documented: Asylum Seekers Lack Functioning Shower in New Brooklyn Shelter
The City: Bronx District Attorney Expanding Phone-Cracking Technology
NYDN: NYPD seeks to grab cell phone IDs from people under arrest or in custody
Gothamist: Migrants directed to walk across Manhattan from Port Authority as city cuts free buses
Queens Daily Eagle: Vermin, dirt and mold: New report shows continued deterioration on Rikers
The Real Deal: Bill guts one of last remaining rent regulation escape routes
City Limits: For LGBTQIA+ Asylum Seekers, Life in NYC Brings New Freedom, and Challenges
Patch: Millions Coming To UWS From NYC’s 2024 Budget: Here’s Where
NBC: NYC is temporarily housing migrant children on cots, violating right-to-shelter requirements
The Guardian: Tech companies block wage increase for New York City delivery workers
El Diario: Estado de NY anuncia protecciones para que indocumentados que denuncian 
Fox5: NYC migrant crisis: Free bus service for asylum seekers no longer guaranteed
Gothamist: City says fewer migrants being bused from Southern states — but they’re still coming
NYDN: Mayor Adams’ deputy says it was a ‘difficult choice’ to cut shuttle service