New York Lawyers for the Public Interest

09/25/2026

We applaud the City Council for passing the J-51 bill, Intro 1015.

Local Law 97 mandates energy source retrofits in large residential buildings to improve New Yorkers' air and health, and this legislation will save 350,000 coop and apartment owners thousands of dollars to make those retrofits.

If you're an owner, free consultations are available to make your upgrades and modernize your unit or building's heating, cooling and weatherization; now this bill will help you pay for it.

Learn more at accelerator.nyc

09/24/2026

Our Environmental Justice team was at City Hall with Council Member Sandy Nurse and the ALIGN NY team for the City Council's event!

Thank you to Speaker Julie Menin and Council Member Sandy Nurse, Council Member Harvey Epstein, Council Member Justin Sanchez, NYC Council Member Shirley Aldebol and Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
for hosting, and congratulations to all of the honorees!

We're proud to work alongside our partners in the fight for climate justice in New York City.

09/18/2026

NYLPI is hiring!

The Senior Civil Rights Attorney will play an important role in advancing NYLPI’s Health Justice civil rights litigation docket.

This is a senior, litigation-focused role centered on developing and leading impact litigation and systemic advocacy at the intersection of immigration status, race, and access to health care.

The attorney will work within NYLPI’s multidisciplinary model, collaborating with advocates, organizers, and communications staff, and partnering with pro bono law firms to advance strategic litigation aligned with our Health Justice campaign priorities.

Learn more and apply: https://www.nylpi.org/career/senior-civil-rights-attorney-health-immigration/

09/09/2026

Caroline Chen, Director of NYLPI's Environmental Justice program, has been appointed to the New York City Council's Environmental Justice Action Board for a three-year term.

Congratulations, Caroline!

Learn more about our Environmental Justice work: nylpi.org/environmental-justice

09/08/2026

Join us for the Queens Daniel's Day Community Wellness Event

Saturday, September 19 | 10 AM – 2 PM
PS Q16, Queens — 42nd Ave. & 104th St.

Daniel's Day honors Daniel Prude, Win Rozario, Eleanor Bumpurs, Deborah Danner, Kawaski Trawick, Eudes Pierre, and the many others killed or harmed by police while experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.

This free community event brings neighbors together with resources for mental health, substance use, housing, immigration, legal, and healthcare needs — and calls for the passage of Daniel's Law, which would create crisis responses led by peers with lived experience and health professionals. Not police.

Wellness is prevention.

♿ Fully ADA-accessible venue, including accessible restrooms.

08/27/2026

What happens when people are forced into mental health treatment?

NYLPI Disability Justice Program Senior Staff Attorney Sakeena Trice examines the harms of Kendra’s Law court orders in a new op-ed for the NY Daily News.

A new independent evaluation found that, for most indicators, voluntary care matched or outperformed court-ordered treatment — faring just as well on daily living functions and employment, and significantly better on arrests.

The evaluation also included in-depth interviews with 46 people who received Kendra’s Law orders. Nearly everyone described fear of hospitalization, jail, or other removal as the reason they complied.

As Sakeena writes, New York now has even clearer evidence that investments in voluntary mental health services, not Kendra’s Law court orders, must be the first response to serious mental illness.

Read Sakeena’s op-ed, “Kendra’s Law is broken, says N.Y. review,” in the NY Daily News:

New York now has even clearer evidence that investments in voluntary mental health services — not Kendra’s Law court orders — must be the first response to serious mental illness. When lawmakers reauthorized Kendra’s Law in 2022, they…

08/26/2026

NYLPI is hiring a Communications Intern for this Fall!

The intern will join our Development and Communications team and build hands-on communications and nonprofit development skills while helping highlight NYLPI's work in health justice, disability justice, immigrant justice, environmental justice, and pro bono partnerships.

Responsibilities include:
– Creating social content, graphics, and short videos
– Assisting with digital action campaigns, email drafting, and proofreading
– Maintaining the communications calendar and pulling engagement metrics
– Capturing content at tabling, rallies, and press conferences
– Supporting 50th Anniversary events, materials, and storytelling campaigns

We're looking for an undergraduate student with strong organizational, interpersonal, and writing skills and a commitment to public interest. Canva or InDesign a plus.

Accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

For more information and how to apply: nylpi.org/careers

08/18/2026

Peaker plants fire up when demand spikes — expensive, highly polluting, and concentrated in communities already carrying the heaviest burden.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS). At the Bronx Chamber of Commerce's Level Up Learning Series, NYLPI Environmental Justice Staff Attorney Michelle Fleurantin explains what BESS could mean for the Bronx: fewer emissions, lower bills, a more reliable grid, and a real route to retiring peaker plants.

07/31/2026

Did you know that NY landlords are required to provide an anti-discrimination notice about disabled tenants' rights to ALL tenants? Read more about NY State's "Disclosure Law" and fill out the survey if you have signed a new or renewal lease in NY State any time in the last five years:

Have you signed a residential lease in New York State since March 2, 2021? Take this survey! We need your help completing a brief (8-question) survey. We are seeking information from people who have signed residential leases in New York […]

07/31/2026

As we wrap up let’s continue promoting awareness and celebrating the diversity, strength, and leadership of people with disabilities all year long.

Every year, Disability Pride Month celebrates the resilience and contributions of individuals with disabilities. At NYLPI, we are dedicated to achieving equality of opportunity, self-determination, and independence for people with disabilities.

The Disability Pride Flag, created by Ann Magill and later updated by the community, uses muted colors and straight stripes to represent the diversity and ongoing fight for disability rights.

Swipe to hear from our Disability Justice team. →