On the Eve of Juneteenth, A Small Step Toward Justice, But Lawmakers Largely Failed to Meet the Moment
Bronx, NY – Today, the New York State Legislature officially ended its current legislative session. And while it took an important step toward justice by passing the Anti-Harassment in Reporting Act – a bill that ends anonymous reporting to government agencies, which if signed into law, will protect thousands of families from the threat of family surveillance and separation – lawmakers failed to meet a moment to transform its approach to public safety in the face of President Trump’s assaults on the dignity, safety, and due process of all New Yorkers.
Several bills, including the New York For All Act and Maternal Health, Dignity, and Consent Act, were kept off the floor. Meanwhile, although the Legislature passed a prison reform package in the wake of Robert Brooks’ death, they abandoned critical bills like the Earned Time Act, Second Look Act, and the Marvin Mayfield Act that together would have dramatically reformed New York’s draconian sentencing laws, creating real accountability.
Juval O. Scott, Executive Director of The Bronx Defenders, issued the following statement:
“All year, our communities demanded bold, transformative change. Yet lawmakers showed again that politics, not justice, is the default in Albany.
“The lone exception is the passage of the Anti-Harassment in Reporting Act, for which we commend the Legislature for its courage, and celebrate with the families who organized for years to get this done. This bill will transform people’s lives: it will eliminate anonymous reporting to government agencies, protecting thousands of families from the threat of family surveillance and separation. As public defenders in the poorest Congressional district in the country, we know how deeply this progress matters. We urge Governor Hochul to sign it into law.
“This shining light aside, lawmakers failed to meet the moment. Albany either opted for piecemeal reforms over bold transformation – as in the case of its prison reform package that left out meaningful sentencing reform – or ignored their own power to make a difference, especially in the face of the federal administration’s mass deportation campaign.
“The Legislature’s approach this year wasn’t forward thinking or rooted in justice; it’s a recycled strategy that refuses to acknowledge the multiple crises affecting New Yorkers, lacking any coherent vision for moving us towards real community safety and support.
“As we prepare to mark Juneteenth, we hold onto the final words of Dr. King’s warning: ‘There is such a thing as being too late. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.’ That remains our charge. And we will keep fighting until every New Yorker—regardless of race, income, or immigration status—has the freedom and support they need to thrive.”
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