Legislative and Advocacy Updates

Nonprofit New York is leading an open letter to the City to center black and people of color led organizations in reallocating policing funds. You can sign your organization to the letter here.

The Chinese-American Planning Council and several organizations are leading a “Fund Social Services, Not the NYPD” letter in light of this weekend’s NYPD activity, and in light of a FY21 budget that cuts social services but maintains the NYPD.

Nonprofit New York is leading a memo in support of A10208/S8169, which would establish the coronavirus pandemic small business and not-for-profit organization loan program. We recommend nonprofits be exempt from the 100 employee cap for loan eligibility. If you would like to  sign on to the memo, email cjindasurat@nonprofitnewyork.org.  

United Neighborhood Houses and several organizations have a sign-on letter for the HOPE Act, which would help states, counties, cities and tribal governments to better use modern technology to make it easier to enable struggling Americans to quickly access multiple unemployment, food, and anti-poverty benefits.

The Human Services Council is working hard at the City, State, and Federal level to make sure nonprofits and our staff have the support they need to continue their lifesaving work through COVID-19. You can support the effort by calling on our elected leaders each week on Fight for the Frontlines Friday.

The Human Services Council and the NYCETC has a survey to understand whether or not the Small Business Association’s Payroll Protection Program (PPP) has benefitted organizations within the human services sectors and workforce development organizations. You can complete the Nonprofit Data Collection for COVID-19 Advocacy: Payroll Protection Program (PPP) to help with that effort.

The Chinese American Planning Council and many human services providers are coming together to lead a sign-on letter to make sure the City knows that human services and the workers that provide them are essential during COVID-19 and during our eventual recovery. You can sign-on to the letter by May 6.

Nonprofit New York is leading a call to action at the City level to call on City legislators to protect City Council discretionary funding for communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Nonprofit New York is leading a call to action at the state level to call on State  legislators to require business interruption insurance to cover COVID-19 losses for nonprofits and small businesses. 

April 7, 2020 The State released guidance for contracted nonprofit human services providers. The guidance outlines performance requirements for funding during COVID-19.

March 20, 2020 Governor Cuomo issued guidance on essential services which includes many social service providers.

March 19, 2020 City Takes Steps to Stabilize Human Services Nonprofits

March 18, 2020 Mayor’s Guidance for Health and Human Service Contracts, which includes payment on contracts, increased cash advances, reimbursements.

March 15, 2020 Mayor’s Office FAQ for Contracted Health and Human Service Providers

March 15, 2020 Comptroller’s letter to Deputy Mayor Fuleihan

July 29, 2020 For the second time in recent weeks, the NY State Budget Justice coalition, which includes a number of AI members, is holding a caravan protest in the Hamptons to protest Cuomo’s budget cuts and demand increased taxes on the rich.

July 16, 2020 Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will spearhead a new campaign, led by a coalition that includes AI members such as Make the Road New York, JFREJ and Adhikaar, to push Cuomo to tax billionaires who live in New York State and use the money to assist people hurt by the pandemic-fueled economic crisis but excluded from UI benefits or the federal stimulus.

July 1, 2020 The NY State Budget Justice coalition, which includes a number of AI members, held a caravan protest in the Hamptons in front of the homes of some of the state’s richest billionaires. The group is protesting in support of increased taxes on the rich.

The New York Caring Majority, a campaign co-led by Hand in Hand and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ), held a virtual Town Hall about Care Work, Economic Recovery & the Green New Deal with Naomi Klein and Ai-Jen Poo. In case you missed the conversation, you can watch the livestream here

The Advocacy Institute joined many leaders of colors from member organizations and nonprofits across New York City in a letter to call for action and reform to fight against racial, social and economic injustice.

May 27, 2020 Some of New York’s most powerful unions, which collectively represent more than 1 million workers in the state, are pushing for higher taxes on the rich to alleviate budget shortfalls related to the pandemic.

The Chinese American Planning Council and Make the Road New York are members of the Budget Justice Coalition, which is launching a #PeoplesRecovery campaign with a series of town halls demanding a People’s Recovery that will regenerate society and tackle institutional inequality head-on

Hand in Hand is partnering with Make the Road New York, National Domestic Workers Alliance, and other local domestic workers organizations in launching a social media campaign #AtHomeWithPay to call upon domestic employers to sign The Pledge and demand Governor Cuomo to include domestic workers in the recently passed NYS Paid Sick Leave. To participate email tatiana@domesticemployers.org.

Hand in Hand and leaders in the Hudson Valley region New York Caring Majority campaign have been meeting regularly to provide mutual support and develop a plan to advance their mission to make long-term care services and supports affordable and accessible to all New Yorkers and to make home care jobs good jobs to meet the growing demand. If you are interested in joining the campaign, you can take this Pledge

The National Domestic Workers Alliance has a call to action at the federal level to call on Congress to protect and provide economic support to domestic workers who are the front-line workers of this public health and economic crisis.

July 29, 2020 The $600/wk additional unemployment benefit is set to expire at the end of this month as Senate Republicans and Democrats are nowhere near close to a deal for a new stimulus package.

July 28, 2020 Senate Republicans and the White House on Monday are throwing their support behind a $400/wk cut in unemployment aid for tens of millions of Americans laid off amid the pandemic. Economists have warned that this aid, slated to expire this week, has provided a crucial economic buffer for the unemployed, and that lowering the payments could have a slew of negative effects on the economy.

Despite being the former epicenter of the pandemic, just 12% of small businesses in NYC got federal aid in the form of Paycheck Protection Program loans, compared with 20% in states much less economically harmed.

July 31, 2020 It has been revealed that while Cuomo opposes tax hikes on the rich in New York, his political machine has received donations from more than a third of the state’s billionaires.

July 29, 2020 Cuomo is standing firm in his opposition to raising taxes on NY State’s richest residents, putting him at odds with Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Carl Heastie, the highest ranking members of the State Senate and Assembly.

July 26, 2020 Cuomo has warned that New York is now at the end of its rope financially and could be forced to make billions of dollars of cuts to its budget if the state doesn’t receive more federal funding in the next two weeks. New York is projecting a $14 billion budget deficit as a direct result of pandemic-related revenue losses.

June 24, 2020 The Cuomo administration has delayed local aid to 12 cities in the state, citing deficits in the state budget and the lack of a federal bailout. These include payments to Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Yonkers, White Plains, and others.

June 18, 2020 A coalition of nearly 100 State Senate and Assembly members signed a pledge vowing to oppose state budget cuts if there aren’t new taxes on the rich. 

March 24, 2020 Two bills creating emergency loan programs were introduced: 

A10208 (Buchwald)/No same as: Establishes the coronavirus pandemic small business and not-for-profit organization loan program. Cap on 100 employees.

A10212 (Otis)/S02520C(Harckham): Establishes the state of emergency small business and not-for-profit organization loan program. Cap on 50 employees.

March 23, 2020 Cuomo seeks federal unemployment relief for gig workers

March 17, 2020 Paid Sick Leave for Quarantined Workers

March 8, 2020 Small business COVID-19 assistance

The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced a dramatic relaxing of environmental rules, citing the decision as a response to the COVID pandemic. The agency will now allow power plants, factories and other facilities to determine for themselves if they are able to meet legal requirements on reporting air and water pollution. The Clean Air Coalition is calling on New York State Attorney General, Letitia James, to respond to the EPA’s order. You can find out more and support the effort here. Want to Take Action on these Cuts To Enforcement? If you would like to sign-on to the letter, please email rebecca@cacwny.org by 10am tomorrow, April 15th

The Tri-State Transportation Campaign and many other community groups are calling on Mayor de Blasio to “expand the size and scope” of the Open Streets initiative. You can see their letter here. 

The Right to Counsel NYC Coalition (which includes Bronx Defenders and Goddard Riverside) is collecting signatures for a Pledge to Resist Evictions and continuing to make calls to keep the courts closed and for a 1 year universal eviction moratorium!

The Right to Counsel NYC Coalition (which includes Bronx Defenders and Goddard Riverside) held a day of action to protest the re-opening of eviction courts statewide and to call for an eviction moratorium. Tenants rights advocates held demonstrations in front of the housing courts in New York City, Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, Binghamton, and Hempstead.

The Right to Counsel NYC Coalition (which includes Bronx Defenders and Goddard Riverside) held a day of action to protest the re-opening of eviction courts statewide and to call for an eviction moratorium. Tenants rights advocates held demonstrations in front of the housing courts in New York City, Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, Binghamton, and Hempstead.

June 23, 2020 In response to pressure from housing advocates, the eviction moratorium, which was set to expire on June 20, was extended at least until July 7. However, tenants rights advocates are calling for an even longer moratorium on evictions to last for duration of the public health crisis.

June 22, 2020 Housing advocates held a day of action to protest the re-opening of eviction courts statewide and to call for an eviction moratorium. Tenants rights advocates held demonstrations in front of the housing courts in New York City, Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, Binghamton, and Hempstead.

May 26, 2020 State Senator Brian Kavanaugh has introduced a bill, the Emergency Rent Relief Act of 2020, which would create a rent voucher program to last the duration of the crisis. However, many housing advocates are not impressed with the bill on the grounds that the means-testing requirements are too burdensome and leave out many needy tenants, and the subsidies only cover a portion of rent, keeping many tenants rent burdened.

The Institute for Justice and Opportunity at John Jay College and 19 other organizations are calling on NYCHA to make temporary changes to its guest and permanent exclusion policies in response to COVID-19. You can support the effort by participating through and sharing the social media toolkit.

Cancel the rent! Upstate Downstate Housing Alliance calls for statewide rent suspension and emergency housing (not shelters) for homeless New Yorkers. Join this effort!

April 1, 2020 Tenant activists launch a toolkit for those tenants planning to go on rent strikes. April 1 is rent day for countless households throughout New York State, but many will not be able to make rent due to COVID-related job losses. Tenant activists are also circulating a petition, which has now surpassed 85,000 signatures, calling for the cancellation of rent payments during the crisis. 

March 27, 2020 Tenants, landlords call for halt to Rent Guidelines Board process. Tenant activists are pushing to cancel this year’s vote and freeze rents while landlords want to push back the process in hopes to get rent increases.

The Upstate Downstate Housing Alliance along with allies won an 90-day statewide moratorium on evictions, so that no one loses their housing or small business during this public health crisis. Check out the FAQ for tenants here.

Make the Road New York is collecting signatures for a petition calling Governor Cuomo and State Legislative leaders to cancel rent for all tenants.

May 7, 2020 Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that he is extending the moratorium on evictions for those facing pandemic-related economic hardship for another 60 days, until Aug. 20. He also announced banning late fees and allowing for the use of security deposits to pay rent (though tenants will have to pay the deposit back). However, he has not addressed demands from housing groups to enact a rent cancellation nor has he announced a plan for what will happen when Aug. 20 arrives.

March 23, 2020 A new bill before the state Senate, sponsored by Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, would cancel rent for tenants across the state. The basic idea is that any person who faces a financial hardship because of the coronavirus would not have to pay their landlords, who could write off that amount from the mortgages they owe.

March 18, 2020 Executive Order to Halt on mortgage payments for 90 days

March 26, 2020 Mayor de Blasio continues to suggest he is open to a rent freeze.

March 20, 2020 Moratorium on evictions

July 29, 2020 Communities United for Police Reform, which includes a number of AI members, held a press conference announcing legal action in response to a lawsuit filed by law enforcement unions to roll back the historic repeal of the 50-a law; this law kept police misconduct records in New York State confidential.

Communities United for Police Reform (which includes Bronx Defenders, Girls for Gender Equity, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, Make the Road NY, VOCAL-NY, Youth Represent and other AI members)  released a report on #NYCBudgetJustice which illustrates specific steps the Council and Mayor can do to reallocate policing funds that address needs of Black, Latinx and other communities of color.

June 25, 2020 Activists and advocates, including those from VOCAL-NY, are camping out in front of City Hall to demand that the NYPD budget be cut by $1 billion.

June 13, 2020 In response to mounting pressure from police reform advocates, the City Council unveiled a proposal to cut an unprecedented $1B from the NYPD’s budget.

June 9, 2020 In a historic vote, the NYS Legislature voted to repeal 50-A, a bill that kept records of police misconduct confidential. This victory was the result of years of organizing and advocacy from the criminal justice reform community, as well as recent protests and heightened public sentiment against police brutality.

June 3, 2020 The Legal Aid Society has filed a writ of habeus corpus on behalf of the nearly 380 protestors who have been jailed without arraignment for longer than 24 hours in cramped jail cells during a pandemic.

June 3, 2020 More than 200 current and former staffers of Mayor de Blasio published an open letter slamming his mishandling of recent protests and prior police misconduct over the course of his tenure.

May 31, 2020 In response to recent police killings nationwide, Communities United for Police Reform, a coalition of organizations fighting for greater police accountability in NYS, have re-upped their campaigns to repeal 50-A, a state bill that keeps police abuse records confidential, and to fight for cuts to the NYPD’s budget.

COVID-19 has come to NY jails and prisons. Join Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP) and allies in calling on Governor Cuomo to release elders and other vulnerable individuals from prison. Sign the petition here! And join the virtual vigil outside Sing Sing at noon today!

March 23, 2020 Advocates who are opposed to efforts to amend newly-implemented criminal justice reforms are say “New York State’s leadership should be laser-focused on coming together to protect our state from a pandemic,” Katie Schaffer of the Center for Community Alternatives said in a March 23 statement. “Changing the bail law to put more legally innocent people in jail before a trial is simply a non-starter.”

March 23, 2020 Criminal justice advocates demand a comprehensive plan to protect the state’s criminal justice system against the coronavirus pandemic.

Jews For Racial & Economic Justice and others have joined forces to lead the Let My People Go campaign, to bail people out of jail and immigration detention, and demand that Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio free jailed and detained New Yorkers.

June 25, 2020 State Senator Zellnor Myrie plans to introduce legislation that would eliminate qualified immunity, which shields public officials like cops from any legal liability, unless the rights they violated were “clearly established, at the state level.

June 29, 2020 Despite earlier opposition to police cuts, De Blasio is nearing a budget with the City Council that would result in $1 billion in cuts to the NYPD. However, many police reform activists are not satisfied with the deal, which achieves the cuts by merely moving school safety agents out of the NYPD and into the purview of the Dept. of Education.

June 17, 2020 The Mayor announced that by July, the city will launch an online database of police disciplinary records after 50-A, the law keeping the records secret, was repealed.

June 4, 2020 The City Council has secured a veto-proof majority for a bill that would criminalize police chokeholds, enabling the bill to pass over the objections of the Mayor, who said he would only sign the bill if it included an exemption for “life or death situations.”

May 31, 2020 Over the course of three days of unrest and protests in the response to a spate of police killings throughout the country, Mayor de Blasio has chosen to side with the NYPD over protestors, even in the case of an NYPD SUV ramming into a crowd of protestors in Brooklyn. This move has angered many of his supporters, especially in light of him winning office on a platform of police reform.

May 11, 2020 District attorneys in every borough but Staten Island have pledged not to prosecute those arrested for social distancing offenses, and in some cases, other violations stemming from recent emergency measures.

March 23, 2020 NYC Looks to Release 1,000+ Inmates as Tri-State Jails Try to Manage COVID-19 Spread

Our City, Our Vote coalition, which is being led by United Neighborhood Houses, is supporting legislation that expands democracy in New York City so green card holders and those authorized to work in the United States can vote in elections for city-level offices as long as they have been a resident of New York City for at least 30 days and are otherwise qualified to register and vote under New York State election law. You can learn more and join the campaign here. 

The New York Immigration Coalition is leading a letter advocating to New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, the New York United platform, which calls for critical investments for our immigrant communities through legal services, literacy education, and cash assistance programs.

The New York Immigration Coalition has launched the New York United Campaign. They are calling for free COVID-19 testing and treatment for all New Yorkers, regardless of status; multilingual COVID-19 hotlines and resources to make sure everyone knows the latest updates; the suspension of ALL immigration enforcement activities; and emergency economic support for all workers—including immigrants impacted by the virus—among others. Read more about their demands here.

The New York State Youth Leadership Council is compiling a live document of resources in NYC around COVID19 support efforts. They are prioritizing resources open to undocumented people. Follow them on social media: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and email them at info@nysylc.org to add resources.

The Academy of Medical & Public Health Services, is providing weekly COVID-19 updates in Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, and English through our newsletter and Weekly COVID Chat sessions via Facebook Live. Feel free to sign up for these updates here or follow our Facebook page here. Our blog page includes past updates, including a recent post with resources for undocumented immigrants. Through our Virtual Community Health Center, they are also continuing to field inquiries through our (212) 256-9036 hotline and offering FREE social assistance services in Chinese/Spanish/English, mental health therapy in Spanish/English, and Adult Literacy ESOL classes for our neediest populations, including the undocumented and uninsured.

July 14, 2020 Scientists, advocates, and elected officials have harshly criticized an NYS internal report which claims that the state’s policy of sending thousands of recovering COVID-19 patients to nursing homes was not a significant factor in nursing home outbreaks.

May 20, 2020 Over 500 people attended a digital rally in support of the New York Health Act organized by the Campaign for NY Health. 

The Campaign for New York Health is leading a letter calling for universal, guaranteed healthcare as central to New York’s recovery from the #CoronaVirusPandemic. The deadline to sign is COB Thursday, May 15th.

The Campaign for New York Health is leading an effort to ask our elected officials to Cosponsor the NY Health Act.

March 30, 2020 The Campaign for New York Health launches its #NoMedicaidCuts digital campaign opposing cuts to healthcare funding in the NY State budget during the COVID-19 crisis. This campaign is part of a larger Budget Justice coalition effort to demand that Cuomo offset cuts to essential services by increasing taxes on NY’s wealthy.

Campaign for New York Health is collecting COVID-19 stories. Share how you have been impacted by the Coronavirus and how you would like to be involved in advocacy for universal, guaranteed healthcare.

May 13, 2020 The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives proposed a new $3 trillion federal stimulus bill. New York would stand to receive tens of billions of dollars in aid if the bill passes, including giving the governor the ability to make his desired cuts to the state’s Medicaid system. 

August 3, 2020 The Senate and Assembly held a joint hearing on the handling of COVID-19 cases in nursing homes, which saw devastating outbreaks that killed thousands of patients though the exact extent of the carnage is still unknown.

June 25, 2020 A group of 22 Democratic State Senators are urging Cuomo to adopt a plan to enact sweeping reforms of nursing home oversight after the high number of nursing home deaths during the peak of the pandemic.

March 19, 2020 The Medicaid Redesign Team put together by Cuomo has recommended $400M in cuts to hospitals in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

March 2, 2020 $40 million to address the COVID-19 public health crisis

March 24, 2020 Here’s a full list of City Agency Suspensions and Reductions.

NYC Health provides guidance for NYers and Providers

The New York Civic Engagement Table is supporting its members and partners with the transition from in-person organizing and outreach to remote and digital. Here are some tools and resources that they have shared.

March 30, 2020 Democratic presidential primary moved from April 28 to June 23 in line with the contests for state and other offices.

March 23, 2020 Democratic Leader has floated canceling the Presidential Primary.

March 16, 2020 New York Officials Weigh Delaying April Primary Election

March 6, 2020 NY to use Census Redistricting reforms after census

March 3, 2020 New York Republican Primary cancelled

March 20, 2020 NYC Census Efforts Paying Off

The president of the United Federation of Teachers said that the union is prepared to take action if they think the reopening of NYC schools is unsafe. For his part, De Blasio has warned that the city wouldn’t be able to make a firm decision about whether to open schools for in-person classes until September, just days before the scheduled first day of school.

New York City’s Board of Health approved a plan to reopen 3,000 child care centers citywide starting July 13, giving parents much-needed relief for the first time since the start of the shutdown.

Mayor de Blasio plans to reopen New York’s public schools in September, but the exact contours of the plan, which will probably involve some form of social distancing and staggered schedules for students, are unclear.

Beginning March 27, 2020, the NYC Department of Education (DOE) Regional Enrichment Centers(RECs) will now also serve grocery, food and pharmacy workers. For community members who are serving in these vital roles and have no other means of childcare, the DOE is setting up Regional Enrichment Centers (RECs). RECs are open and operate from 7:30am to 6:00pm (Monday-Friday), and will ensure that students have access to remote learning as well as various art, music, and other activities. If your child is a New York City resident and you would like to enroll in one of these centers, please complete this REC Enrollment Form. Please complete this form for each child you are seeking to enroll. You will then receive an email confirming your child’s center assignment.

July 27, 2020 The Movement of Rank and File Educators (MORE), a leftwing caucus within the United Federation of Teachers, is organizing its members to get ready for a potentially escalating fight and a possible sickout if NYC schools reopen without a safe plan.

Girls for Gender Equity is leading a Call to Action: Demand NYC Defund NYPD, Including Police in Schools.

United Neighborhood Houses helped to lead an open letter to the Mayor that was drafted by youth service workers demanding that you act immediately to reinstate funding for summer programming for Beacons, COMPASS, Cornerstones, SONYC, and SYEP programs for Summer 2020. While the deadline to sign-on has passed you can still view the letter here.

Girls for Gender Equity released a report on the Mayor’s funding priorities and is advocating for #NYCBudgetJustice. You can support the effort by reading, sharing and demanding #PoliceFreeSchools!

The New York Coalition for Adult Literacy (which includes the Chinese-American Planning Council, Make the Road New York, New York Immigration Coalition, and United Neighborhood Houses) participated in a virtual celebration of Mental Health Awareness Week by sending out Tweets and Instagram messages to our elected officials to support funding for Adult Education and show how our programs support students’ mental and emotional health.

Young Invincibles will hold a forum on CUNY student mental health, and how COVID-19 has impacted students’ well-being. The event will take place Thursday, May 21st from 3pm-4:30pm.

United Neighborhood Houses, a part of the Campaign for Children, launched the #SaveOurSummerNYC campaign to call on a summer recovery plan for New York City’s young people, following the announced cuts to SYEP, COMPASS, SONYC, Beacon, and Cornerstone programs. You can sign on in support here.

Young Invincibles is leading an action urging Governor Cuomo to not cut higher education’s budget.

March 23, 2020 Call for postponement of district voting on school budgets and school board candidates. Currently being reviewed by the State Education Department.

Young Invincibles will be holding a student-led town hall on April 30th at 1PM, on “Supporting New York City’s College Students Through Crisis and Beyond.” You can register and hear from New York City’s college students on how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting their education, and from New York leaders such as NYS Senator Toby Ann Stavisky and NYS Assemblymember Harvey Epstein on how the state can support its students. You can show your support on social media with this toolkit.

Gender Equality New York will be holding its 2020 New York State LGBTQI Virtual Day of Action on May 7th at 9am to advocate for policy that impacts the lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Questioning, Intersex (LGBTQI) New Yorkers and their families. You can find more information and register for the event here.