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 sues to reopen New York’s emergency rental assistance program

NYT: New York stopped taking applications for pandemic rent aid. Now it faces a lawsuit.
Patch: NY Rent Relief Program Could Reopen If Legal Aid Lawsuit Succeeds
Politico: Legal Aid sues to compel state to reopen rent relief program
CBS2: Lawsuit Filed To Force New York To Reopen Applications For Pandemic Rental Assistance
City Limits: New York May Redistribute 20,000 Unclaimed Rent Relief Checks
Law360: NY Tenants Sue To Reopen Rent Relief Application Portal
The Real Deal: Legal Aid Society suit asks NY to reopen rent relief portal

LAS client William Brown is the 16th New Yorker to die in DOC custody

NYT: On Rikers, Brooklyn Man Becomes Latest Detainee to Die in Custody
AP: 16th inmate dies in 2021 amid crisis in New York City jails
Queens Daily Eagle: Rikers Death Count Rises Again
NYDN: 16th NYC detainee dies at Rikers Island
NY Post: 16th inmate dies while in Department of Correction custody this year
El Diario: 16th inmate dies while in Department of Correction custody this year

LAS decries Adams’ plan to expand solitary confinement in City jails

Patch: Adams Faces Backlash Over Vow To Bring Back Solitary Confinement
Politico: Adams names new Correction boss, says he’ll bring back solitary to Rikers
Gothamist: Adams Will Keep Solitary Confinement at Rikers Island, Despite Humanitarian Concerns
CBS2: Mayor-Elect Adams Names Louis Molina Next Department Of Correction Commissioner

Keechant Sewell named NYPD commissioner

NY1: Keechant Sewell to be named NYC’s first woman police commissioner
NYT: Keechant Sewell to Become First Woman to Lead N.Y.P.D.
News12: NYC Mayor-elect picks Keechant Sewell as NYPD’s 1st female police commissioner
NYDN: Mayor-elect Adams taps Keechant Sewell as first female NYPD commissioner
CNN: NYC to get its first female police commissioner to lead the nation’s largest police force
The Crime Report: NYC’s First Female Police Chief Urged to Make ‘Top to Bottom’ Reforms
Carib News: Adams Picks Sewell, Makes History as NYC’S First Black Female Police Commissioner
Queens Daily Eagle: Queens-raised Sewell named police commissioner

More LAS in the news

NYLJ: Court Says Juvenile Entitled to Same Impeachment Discovery as Adult Defendants
Pix 11: New legislation gets more families out of shelters, into their own homes
Gothamist: Advocates Hope Hochul Delivers on Clemency Where Cuomo Failed
Gothamist: Hochul Urged To Sign Bill For Parents Who Risk Losing All Contact With Their Kids
Norwood News: Rivera Calls for Clemency for Homeless Man Who Stole NyQuil
El Diario: Gobernadora firma ley que aumenta valor de cupones de vivienda para familias
City Limits: Hochul Taps Longtime NYC Homeless Advocate as Next OTDA Commissioner
WNYC: Advocates Hope Hochul Delivers on Clemency Where Cuomo Failed To