The Legal Aid Society initiated a class-action lawsuit against Mayor Eric Adams, aiming to compel his administration to enact a contentious housing voucher reforms package. Filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, the suit represents four individuals allegedly denied city rental assistance despite recent legislative changes.
Adriene Holder, Legal Aid’s chief attorney of the civil practice, emphasized the plight of low-income New Yorkers teetering on homelessness or trapped in shelters. Standing at City Hall, Holder stressed that the implementation of city council-enacted laws could alleviate their housing struggles, eliminating sleepless nights, courtroom battles, and landlord harassment.
In response, City Hall spokesperson Kayla Mamelak stated that the administration would assess the lawsuit. This legal action follows a protracted disagreement between the City Council and Mayor Adams regarding modifications to the cityFHELPS program. These changes aim to provide housing vouchers to individuals facing eviction without entering the shelter system for at least 90 days. Additionally, the legislation raises income-level thresholds for aid qualification and prohibits landlords from inflating costs by deducting utility expenses from vouchers.
Despite Mayor Adams’ veto in June, citing a projected $17 billion cost and strained city finances due to ongoing challenges, the council overrode his decision the following month. Adams later informed council members that he had no intention of implementing the bills, prompting threats of legal action. The administration argued against the council’s authority to enforce certain changes outlined in the legislation.
Speaker Adrienne Adams had warned City Hall of potential legal repercussions if reforms were not enacted promptly. While lawmakers granted the speaker authority to initiate or join a lawsuit, no formal legal action has been taken by the council.
Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala underscored the importance of Legal Aid’s lawsuit, affirming the council’s ongoing exploration of legal avenues while emphasizing the need for plaintiff voices in the conversation.
