NYLSC Announces New Board
Leadership Reflects on Final Budget’s Impact on Civil Legal Services, Names Policy Priorities
The New York Legal Services Coalition (NYLSC) recently elected its leadership for the coming year. The Coalition has also been actively engaged on the final state budget and advocacy priorities for the end of session.
NYLSC is a statewide Coalition comprised of nearly fifty member organizations which provide essential civil legal services to low- and middle-income people who have civil legal problems, to the most vulnerable communities throughout the state of New York. The Coalition represents a diverse portfolio of legal specialties such as family law, housing, elder rights, immigration, health care, and civil rights and housing stabilization across all judicial districts of New York State. The Coalition’s members work together on advocacy efforts and initiatives that support the organization’s mission of serving client communities, member organizations, and constituents.
New Board Announced
The NYLSC Board would like to express its deep appreciation to Tina Monshipour Foster, Executive Director, JustCause, for her services as the Coalition’s President for the past year and a half. Monshipour Foster was succeeded by Kristin Brown, CEO and President of Empire Justice Center. Brown previously served as the Coalition’s co-vice President and cochair of the Coalition’s Steering Committee. In addition to Brown as current President and CEO, the NYLSC Board Officers are comprised of the following members:
Tiffany Liston, Co-Vice President, Executive Director, Mobilization for Justice
Jessica Rose, Esq., Co-Vice President, Executive Director, Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A*
Sienna Fontaine, Co- Secretary, Legal Director/ General Counsel, Make the Road New York
Gretchen Gonzalez, Co-Secretary, CEO, ECBA Volunteer Lawyers Project- VLP
Karen Nicolson, Esq., Treasurer, CEO, The Center for Elder Law & Justice
Sal Curran, Chair of Steering Committee, Executive Director, Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY, Inc.
Jessica A. Rose, Esq., Co-Vice President, Executive Director, Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A, is the only newly elected Officer on the board.
Additionally, Monice Barbero, Executive Director of The Legal Project, was newly elected to the Board.
The additional Board members are as follows:
Adriene Holder, Chief Attorney, Civil Practice, The Legal Aid Society of New York
Heidi Dennis, Executive Director, Rural Law Center of New York.
Kurt Denk, Executive Director, City Bar Justice Center,
Monice Barbero, Executive Director, The Legal Project.
Raun Rasmussen, Executive Director, Legal Services of New York City
Rodrigo Sanchez-Camus, Director of Legal, Organizing, & Advocacy, NMIC.
Tina Monshipour. Foster, Executive Director, JustCause
“I have been a Coalition board member since its inception, and we have never been stronger. Congrats Tina and the whole board for being a true voice for our members and the communities we serve!” Karen Nicolson, CEO of the Center for Elder Law, and Justice in Buffalo.
Coalition Reaction to the Final State Budget, including sweep of IOLA funds
During this budget cycle, the Coalition has advocated for issues that directly impact the Coalition, its members, and the communities it serves. The Coalition pushed back on the proposed “sweep” of $100 m from the Interest on Lawyers Account (IOLA) to the General Fund originally included in the Executive Budget, which was rescinded in the 30-day amendments. However, during the final hours of negotiations, lawmakers agreed on Governor Hochul’s onetime $55 million “sweep” from the Interest on Lawyers Account fund (IOLA), with $40 m covering the cost of the state’s foreclosure prevention program (HOPP) and eviction prevention services at $15 m.
“Fundamentally, this will take non-taxpayer dollars from low-income New Yorkers who need access to civil legal services,” Kristin Brown, President of the New York Legal Services Coalition. “Diverting any IOLA interest could undermine the ethical basis of the IOLA Fund and run the risk of turning IOLA into a government slush fund if we do not take steps to protect it,” she added.
This marks the first time in history that these funds have been diverted to any purpose other than their intended use, setting a dangerous precedent for IOLA and civil legal services.
“The Governor and Legislators have assured us that this is a one-time occurrence. We look forward to working together to take measures that will ensure that these funds are protected for generations to come,” said Sal Curran and Jessica Rose, co-chairs of the Legislative Steering Committee of the New York Legal Services Coalition.
Other notable budget outcomes include:
Judiciary Civil Legal Services (JCLS), which supports general civil legal aid statewide, was funded as proposed by the Office of Court Administration in the Executive budget – 3% COLA and 3% increase. The Coalition is grateful for the increase, especially considering it is a tight budget year.
The final budget included the Governor’s proposal of an additional $20 m this year and $100 m over 3 years, to help avoid cuts to Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funded programs. VOCA is funded with federal dollars, however, funding levels are down dramatically, which is posing a risk to programs. The Coalition is grateful for the multiyear commitment.
Level funding of $40 m for the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP) – while this is a critical program, the Coalition is concerned that it was funded by the sweep of IOLA funds.
Level funding of $50 m for eviction prevention programs – like HOPP, this funding ensures important services continue, but the Coalition disagrees with the sweeping of IOLA funds
Additionally, the Coalition was disappointed some proposals that would have benefited our client communities were not included in the final budget, such as Right to Counsel in eviction matters, which was included in both one-house budget proposals, but dropped in the final budget negotiations.
Coalition Names Priorities for the End of Session
Through the end of session, the Coalition will be advocating for legislation that would support its clients, client communities, and member organizations, including:
S.9130 (Ryan) - Ensures that the IOLA Fund is utilized solely for its intended, statutory purpose, which is to support the delivery of civil legal aid to low-income New Yorkers.
S.9032 (Ryan) / A.9478 (McMahon) –Clarifies the intent of 2023 changes to the notarization law by allowing any person to submit an affirmation under penalty of perjury in lieu of an affidavit in an administrative proceeding.
S.4877 (Mayer) / A.2740 (Paulin) - Requires state agencies to execute and renew contracts within 30-days of the start date of such contracts.
S.139B (Ryan) / A.1358 Thiele) - Requires Town and village Court judges, in the 100 jurisdictions with the highest volume caseloads to be admitted to practice law in NYS for at least five years. The bill allows presently elected judges to that do not meet this experience requirement to continue serving.
Long-term Priority: Pay Parity
The Coalition will continue working toward its long-term goals of addressing the need for Pay Parity for civil legal service attorneys. The wage gap between civil legal service attorneys’ salaries and their government peers is fueling a crisis and driving the state’s Access to Justice Gap. The Coalition recently released a white paper on this issue Pay Parity: A Shared Vision to Achieve Pay Parity for All Attorneys Working to Close the Justice Gap and will continue work on this issue in the next budget cycle. About the New York Legal Services Coalition The New York Legal Services Coalition is a statewide association that represents the interests of civil legal services organizations and the communities they serve. Our members collectively provide services in the areas of family law, housing, immigration, and public benefits across all 62 counties of New York State.
About the New York Legal Services Coalition
The New York Legal Services Coalition is a statewide association that represents the interests of civil legal services organizations and the communities they serve. Our members collectively provide services in the areas of family law, housing, immigration, and public benefits across all 62 counties of New York State.