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 pushes back on misleading crime statistics 

Pix 11: Serious crimes spiked across New York City in January: NYPD
WSJ: New York City Police Commissioner Blames New Bail Law for Rising Crime
Staten Island Advance: Robberies up sharply on Staten Island; bail reform laws cited by NYPD
NY1: Overall Crime Up 16.9 Percent in New York City in January, NYPD Says
Pix 11: Serious crimes spiked across New York City in January: NYPD
Politico: Year begins with crime spike in NYC amid statewide bail debate
ABC7: New York City starts year with spike in shootings ; NYPD, critics blame bail reform
El Diario: El NYPD confirma alza del 16.9% en crímenes mayores en la Gran Manzana
Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Following January crime spike, NYPD officials point finger at bail reform
Queens Daily Eagle: NYPD blames bail law for crime increase, as murder and hate crimes plummet

NYPD misconduct cases cost taxpayers millions 

NY Post: City payouts in NYPD misconduct cases up by nearly $30M
Queens Daily Eagle: Ex-inmates and reformers call on state to pass parole overhaul
Gothamist: NYPD Misconduct Lawsuits Cost Taxpayers Nearly $69 Million Last Year
El Dario: Demandas por “mala conducta” contra el NYPD costaron $68 millones en 2019
NY Daily News: New data shows $69 million paid by city in 2019 to settle suits against NYPD
CBS Radio: NYPD Paid Nearly $69 Million In Settlements In 2019
Queens Daily Eagle: NYPD lawsuits filed in Queens cost the city $5.76 million last year
Patch: Queens Lawsuits Against NYPD Cost Taxpayers $3.5M Last Year

Advocates call for NYCHA funding

CBS: Advocates Rip Gov. Cuomo At Rally For Not Putting Money For Public Housing In New Budget
Politico NY: Johnson, housing advocates push for more state funding for NYCHA
El Diario: Exigen $3,500 millones a Albany para salvar del desalojo y desamparo a miles en NYC
Pix 11: City Council Speaker holds rally, demands $2 billion for public housing
Queens Daily Eagle: Local pols demand funding and fixes for NYC public housing
QNS: After Cuomo omits public housing funds from budget, advocates speak out
New York County Politics: Johnson, Advocates Call on Albany to Address New York’s Housing Crisis
NY City Lens: The Ongoing Fight for Heat in NYCHA Housing
NY Daily News: NYC Council Speaker urges Albany to put $2 billion in beleaguered NYCHA housing
AMNY: After Cuomo omits public housing funds from budget, advocates speak out

NYC tenants will no longer have to pay broker’s fees

Curbed: No more broker’s fees for NYC renters: Here’s what that means
Gothamist: Broker Fees Are Now Illegal—Here’s How To Claw Yours Back
NY Post: NYC real estate industry reeling after surprise broker fees ruling
Crain’s: Landlords Must Pay Rental Broker Fees State Regulators Say

More LAS in the news

Black Star News: New York City Council Speaker Unveils Plan to Address Homelessness Crisis 
Gothamist: Tabloids Sow More Bail Reform Confusion, Claiming Laws Set Man “Free To Rape”
Politico: City’s housing agency changes ‘devastating’ voucher policy after domestic violence suit
WXXI: Bail reform debate touches on accusations of racism on a Facebook page
NY Daily News: Protecting tenants from evictions renews push in Albany for ‘good cause’ legislation
The Appeal: Clemency Gave Him a Second Chance
NY Post: State Democrats rip Nassau officials for ‘blatantly lying’ about MS-13 witness death
THE CITY: What is RAD? A Look at NYCHA’s Private Management Move 
Washington Square News: Chelsea Residents Resist Public Housing Privatization at Town Hall
NY Daily News: Immigrant rights groups say SOTU speech sought to ‘exploit and politicize’ slaying of 92-year-old woman