Pushing for "New York for All" (photo: Jeff Reed/City Council)

The promise of government is to serve and protect its residents, and to ensure fairness, equity, and justice for all. This year, New York state government in Albany has failed in its duty to deliver on critical issues affecting immigrants, tenants, and those who interface with the criminal justice system.

The lack of progress in implementing key initiatives — such as Good Cause Eviction, the Housing Access Voucher Program, New York for All, and the Access to Representation Act — demonstrates an absence of leadership at a crucial time, with soaring rates of homelessness and tens of thousands of newly-arrived immigrants. The decision to further roll back bail reform measures adds to the list of grave mistakes this year that have undermined the state's commitment to justice and equality. At a time when New York should be moving forward, our leaders appear to be going backwards. 

With New York mired by a generations-long housing crisis, with rents skyrocketing and working class New Yorker’s being pushed to the street, once again Good Cause Eviction was stopped in its tracks. The housing crisis in New York State is well-documented, and leader did nothing to address the deep lack of affordable options.

The failure to implement Good Cause Eviction and the Housing Access Voucher Program is a significant blow to tenants who face arbitrary and unjust evictions, often leading to homelessness. This lack of protection not only undermines the stability of individual households but also erodes the fabric of our communities. Albany's inaction on this front is ensuring that so many of New York’s largest demographic — renters — get pushed further to the margins and continue to be vulnerable.

New York has long prided itself on being a welcoming and inclusive state for immigrants. Yet, we now see a too-familiar reluctance to meet the moment. With over 100,000 recent immigrant arrivals in New York, we expected our government to rise to the occasion — as we have so many times before. Instead, when New York City began resettlement  of migrants to other parts of the state where they face serious risk of negative ICE interactions, the State Legislature failed to pass New York for All, common sense legislation that prevents state and local law enforcement from coordinating with federal immigration authorities. Instead, like so much else, it fell by the wayside.

Additionally, the Access to Representation Act, which would have ensured legal counsel for all individuals facing deportation, was another missed opportunity to provide fairness and due process to immigrants. When our neighbors step into immigration court without an attorney they are set up to fail. Access to legal representation is a fundamental right. Denying this right undermines the principles of justice and equality. By failing to prioritize and allocate adequate resources to this initiative, Albany has hindered the progress of immigrant communities and undermined their potential contributions.

Three years ago, New York State made significant strides in criminal justice reform and the people rejoiced. The most notable of these was long overdue bail reform. This progress has been the subject of unceasing attacks by bad actors who want to continue to double down on carceral solutions and extremism. These attacks were renewed this year as well, and once more a decision was made to roll back key reforms.

Bail reform aimed to rectify the inequities that disproportionately affected low-income individuals, who often languished in jail solely due to their inability to pay bail. Most of those impacted were working class, Black and Latino New Yorkers. By reverting toward a system that perpetuates injustice and inequality, Albany has disregarded the voices of advocates and marginalized communities who called for meaningful change.

New York’s failure to deliver on key initiatives addressing immigrant rights, tenant protections, and criminal justice reforms represents our state ceding leadership. It represents a failure to do right by our communities. It is imperative that our government renews its commitment to these critical issues and constituents, prioritizing the needs and rights of its most vulnerable New Yorkers.

This begs the question: Who are we as New York at this crucial moment? Coming out of a pandemic, a deep affordability crisis, tenants losing their homes, thousands of new immigrants arriving — New York must step up to the plate to lead in this moment. Our State will be judged by the way in which we treat those on the margins and who are most vulnerable.

We must stand in our power and return to the days of being a shining beacon of hope for the marginalized and a northstar for other states to aspire to. We should be applauding our government for being an example of what is possible when leaders lead. 

Our streets should be filled with the thunderous applause of New Yorkers who feel cared for. But instead of a moment of joy, this summer our streets will be filled with New Yorkers fighting for their dignity and survival once more.

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Claire Cousin is a Member of For the Many and former Executive Director of Hudson Catskills Housing Coalition. Abdullah Younus is Interim Vice President of Advocacy at New York Immigration Coalition. Eddie Taveras is Political Director of Immigration Campaigns at FWD.us. On Twitter @ForTheMany, @thenyic, & @FWDus.