There are only a few hours left before the legislative session 2022 in Albany concludes, and leaders and activists are increasing the call for the Legislature to of New York to side with thousands of vulnerable New Yorkers, and give the green light to several initiatives that, with the clock about to stop, are still in the pipeline.
The fear of the defenders of the most needy communities, is that it arrives this Thursday, June 2, when the State Legislature puts the notice of “closed session”, and urgent laws on housing and criminal justice are not approved, which will make the path of good part of New Yorkers.
One of the main initiatives with which Albany continues “asleep on its laurels” is the “Good Cause” law, also known as the good cause law or just cause in matters of of evictions, which would prevent landlords from evicting tenants.
The urgency of this start tiva, promoted by state senator Julia Salazar, is becoming more important at this time according to activists, because more than 200,000 New Yorkers are facing or could face eviction proceedings in court.
Lucas Sánchez, co-executive director of The New York Communities for Change (NYCC) organization expressed the frustration that reigns in the communities to see that Albany continues to set aside fundamental protections like that, to face needs that have increased after the COVID-19.
“Governor Hochul and the State’s legislative leaders have abandoned low-income communities of color income, including many Latino immigrants who are essential workers on the front lines of the COVID pandemic. Black and Latino New Yorkers that we represent and organize are fighting to survive,” warned Sánchez, mentioning laws that remain in the pipeline.
“We are tired of legislative sessions where no legislation is passed to help them. It is disgraceful that Governor Hochul and our State’s legislative leaders have failed to enact good cause eviction protections and other common sense policies that are necessary for a decent quality of life in New York,” the activist said. “We hold them responsible for that failure and we will continue to fight for what our communities need.”
Another series of measures in which thousands of immigrant and undocumented New Yorkers have their hopes pinned and which for now remain in the clothesline, are the “New York for All Act”, which broadly prohibits state and local officials from doing federal immigration law work, as well as the “Stop Immigration Bond Abuse Act”, which would regulate bail bond companies , limiting fees and charges.
Theo Oshiro, co-director of the organization Make the Road New York, called on the state Legislature to find ways to give free rein to these types of measures that are crucial to the future of millions of New Yorkers.
“The stakes are high: Governor Hochul and the State Legislature cannot leave our most vulnerable communities on the brink of displacement. We ask that you pass the good cause eviction law to protect New Yorkers from losing their homes,” the activist said.
Oshiro also mentioned that if Albany does not act to end the unequal treatment that Latino and black students suffer daily in schools with punitive measures, the most vulnerable communities will continue to suffer its unjust effect.
“For the past seven years, students of color have been subject to detention for minor infractions in your classroom. Our state leaders can remedy this by passing ‘Solutions Not Suspension’ legislation. These community priorities have overwhelming support from both chambers, but they have not yet moved forward,” said the community leader, warning that they will not cease their clamor to Albany despite the closing of the legislative session.
“Our fight is not over, we will continue to hold the Governor accountable and state leaders and we will push to the end to ensure basic rights and protections for our communities,” Oshiro concluded.
Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) recognized that Albany pushed for important advances for the well-being of immigrant families, such as the inclusion of health coverage for the elderly, greater access to languages and greater investments in the immigration legal services budget, they are neglecting vital laws to support those most in need.
“More needs to be done to ensure that the i Immigrant New Yorkers are not left behind by rampant inflation and the difficulties of this pandemic. Too many families are still struggling to pay bills, keep their housing and the constant fear of being separated from their families, while navigating government services that often do not provide full language accessibility,” said Awawdeh. “Albany still has time to make significant progress in improving the lives of New Yorkers by passing laws like NY4All, Clean Slate, the Stop Immigration Bond Abuse Act and other important legislation. Our elected leaders must act now”, concluded the activist.
And while the final hours pass in Albany, showing once again that they are willing to fight until the last moment and beyond, hundreds of protesters arrived this Tuesday at the headquarters of the Legislative Capitol to demand that their cries be heard.
In addition to the stagnant laws, which they ask the Legislature to approve and Governor Kathy Hochul to push, they also add the “Parole Act for the Elderly” and “Parole for the Elderly” fair and timely”, seeking to free thousands of elderly inmates.
With a display from a prison cemetery, outside the legislative building, protesters crowded to ask Albany to advance in the approval of the initiatives, of which they assure they have enough support to be converted into laws, if it is taken to the plenary.
In the midst of their clamor, the activists assured that if Albany does not approve these laws before the legislative session closes, some 36 inmates of color will die in New York state prisons during the next legislative recess.
“What we’re dealing with right now is a lack of political will. We have the votes to pass Elder Parole and Fair and Timely Parole. This lack of political will will kill our loved ones. We need them free. We need parole justice this session,” said TeAna Taylor, co-director of policy and communications for the RAPP campaign.
Assemblywoman Maritza Dávila, lead sponsor of the Senior Parole Project. He assured that if Albany does not move with this project, it will continue to be closed to give opportunities to the most vulnerable.
“My district knows what it means to have family members incarcerated all their lives. Let’s not impose a death sentence on them. We are always talking about giving people opportunities. This is an opportunity. An opportunity for children to see their parents again,” said the policy.
State Senator Brad Hoylman referred to the fair and timely parole law, and assured that its approval is urgent to ensure that the Parole Board provides incarcerated individuals with a meaningful opportunity for parole. “This is literally a matter of life or death,” said the politician.
Ronald Denis, leader of the organization VOCAL-NY, revealed that most sentenced inmates try to resocialize by improving and progressing while in prison, but the current system does not see that progress when it comes to granting the benefit of parole.
“In 1983, I was sentenced from 15 years to life without knowing how to read. In those 15 years, I earned my GED and a college degree. When I went to the parole board the first time they denied me. They gave me two more years. I kept improving. They gave me two more years, and two more and two more. They kept denying me parole for one thing I couldn’t change, the nature of my crime. I ended up serving 70 years in prison, said the former inmate.
Pending laws in Albany that would guarantee protections to vulnerable communities
- Good cause or just cause: This eviction law for good cause would prohibit terminating a lease, except in cases of violations of the lease. Rent increases would be limited to 3% or 1.5 times the annual percentage change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is greater.
- New York for All Act: Would broadly prohibit state and local officials from doing federal immigration law work, channeling people into ICE custody and share confidential information with federal immigration authorities. At the same time it would prohibit ICE and CBP from entering non-public areas of state and local property without a warrant
- Law of parole for the elderly: it would allow elderly inmates to benefit under the figure of parole and not spend their last years behind bars
- Fair and Timely Parole Act: Seeks to ensure that the Parole Board provides inmates with a meaningful opportunity to obtain their parole
- Solutions Not Suspension Law ons: This project seeks to end suspensions as the default way of disciplining students and seeks to use restorative approaches that positively impact student behavior.
Stop Immigration Bond Abuse Act: Would comprehensively regulate for-profit immigration bond companies, prohibiting them from imposing electronic shackles and surveillance, limiting bond fees and charges Immigration Law and Crack Down on Deceptive Contracts and Abusive Practices