Threat of mass legal aid strikes averted, but picket lines persist

Threat of mass legal aid strikes averted, but picket lines persist

While the threat of a mass legal aid strike in the city has passed, over 100 attorneys and staffers at a trio of legal services providers have remained on the picket line with little hope of returning to work any time soon.

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Guards violated constitutional rights of inmate killed in state prison, new lawsuit alleges

Guards violated constitutional rights of inmate killed in state prison, new lawsuit alleges

A new federal civil rights lawsuit was filed against the prison guards accused of brutally beating and killing 22-year-old Messiah Nantwi while he was incarcerated, arguing his constitutional rights were violated.

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State Legislature passes prison reforms, heads to Hochul’s desk

State Legislature passes prison reforms, heads to Hochul’s desk

The New York State Legislature passed a package of prison reforms on the last day of the legislative session, sending the bills to the governor’s desk. However, the governor has not indicated if she plans to support the package or not.

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Officials and activists rally after latest death in New York’s prisons

Officials and activists rally after latest death in New York’s prisons

Activists and elected officials rallied in Albany on Tuesday to call for prison reforms after a 22-year-old incarcerated man was killed after allegedly being beaten by prison guards over the weekend.

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Gov leaves out atty student loan relief from budget

Gov leaves out atty student loan relief from budget

Despite widespread support from lawmakers, district attorneys and public defenders alike, Governor Kathy Hochul did not allocate the $4 million in her recently released Executive Budget Proposal needed to enable legislation that would expand the District Attorney and Indigent Legal Service Attorney Loan Forgiveness program.

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Elmhurst docs rally for new contract

Elmhurst docs rally for new contract

Doctors at Elmhurst Hospital, known as the epicenter of the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, rallied on Tuesday alongside their union Doctors Council SEIU, saying that they want more than pot and pan banging from city officials as they negotiate a new contract.

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Chief judge backs pair of criminal justice reform bills

Chief judge backs pair of criminal justice reform bills

New York’s top judge last week urged Albany to pass into law a pair of bills that he said would go a long way toward reforming the state’s sentencing laws and toward correcting historic inequities in the state’s criminal justice system.

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Queens pols call on gov to back Right to Shelter rules

Queens pols call on gov to back Right to Shelter rules

As New York City and the Adams Administration – with support from Governor Kathy Hochul – fight the city’s Right to Shelter rules in court, a host of local electeds including, several from Queens, penned a letter to Hochul this week calling on her to keep the mandate in place. 

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Migrant crisis widens political rifts in Queens and beyond

Migrant crisis widens political rifts in Queens and beyond

As the ongoing migrant crisis in New York City intensifies with no signs of slowing down, as has the rift between various sects of city electeds with different strategies for fighting it, splintering Mayor Eric Adams’ hopes of a united front. 


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