Office of the Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams

Rich donors try to build our budgets behind closed doors, but these decisions should be in the people's hands. 🧮 Check out our new interactive Build-A-Budget tool, and submit your version of the budget to help push the governor to FINALLY tax the rich. advocate.nyc.gov/BuildABudget

Thankfully this abhorrent attack was stopped by the NYPD and FBI before it could be carried out—we’re grateful Nerdeen is safe. With violent extremism and persecution against protesters stoked by those atop the federal government, we must defend New Yorkers’ safety and rights.

Even outside Barclays, we were repping blue and orange on Opening Day. One down, 161 to go. And we're always rooting for NYC. #LGM #NewYorkForever

We should approach the reality of gambling in New York the same way Knicks and Mets fans approach each season: Hope for the best, work toward the best, and be ready for any negatives. New report out ⬇️ Play It Safe: Mitigating Gambling Harms in New York advocate.nyc.gov/reports/gambli…

"It shouldn’t be surprising that a federal government dedicated to sanitizing our history and erasing the experiences of Black Americans and other marginalized populations would reject this resolution, but it is sickening." On the UN vote on reparations: advocate.nyc.gov/press/nyc-publ…

🧵 "In our city, at the United Nations, the overwhelming majority of the world acknowledged the horrific inhumanity of centuries of trans-Atlantic slave trade, its brutality, its lasting impact, and the moral imperative to make reparations for this crime. "America refused..."

It's #WorldDoulaWeek! Why work with a doula? They can help you: 💜 Have a simpler labor and delivery 💜 Breastfeed for longer 💜 Bond with your baby Learn more and find out if you're eligible for free or low-cost doula services: on.nyc.gov/doula

Barry Cozart is the first Rikers detainee to die this year—we must ensure he is the last. We join the Cozart family in calling for accountability as his sudden death is investigated. It's morally unconscionable to allow this deadly status quo to persist. gothamist.com/news/family-sa…

It's not that people can't or shouldn't gamble; it's that government can't. 📺 Hear from the Public Advocate and co-host/ Communications Director Kevin on our new Suite of Sixteen steps to help mitigate potential harms of gambling in New York. 📑 More: advocate.nyc.gov/reports/gambli…

"I have no doubt that rich donors are threatening to leave — in the comfort of closed-door fund-raisers...But we’ve heard this around other revenue-raising measures, and those donors are still here." New York can’t afford not to tax the rich @timesunion: timesunion.com/opinion/articl…

On baseball’s Opening Day, and as the Sweet 16 tips off in March Madness, the Public Advocate is releasing a new report: Play It Safe: Mitigating Gambling Harms in New York Find policy recommendations on mitigating existing and potential gambling harms: advocate.nyc.gov/reports

The pay gap persists, keeping gender equity out of reach. Nationally, women earn 76¢ on average to every dollar earned by a man—and that gap widens for women of color, disabled women, and LGBTQIA+ workers. It's 2026; we've BEEN needing equal pay for equal work. #EqualPayDay

NEW: "I worked closely with @VendorPower to pass my bill establishing this office...To have one of its leaders, Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez, now head the office we created together is an exciting indicator of what’s to come for" NYC's smallest businesses. advocate.nyc.gov/press/new-stre…

A neglectful landlord is a bad landlord. We won't accept that. We won a settlement. We monitored. We came back to check.

We hope all New Yorkers are experiencing a powerful Women's History Month, as we stand resolved to protect our progress for gender equity. A few of our team members donned purple recently to symbolize strength, courage, and unity. We will carry that spirit with us year-round.

We joined Republic of Ghana President @JDMahama and local leaders to honor enslaved Africans at the African Burial Ground—a gathering place that demands we honor our history with action. This moment set the tone for today's much-needed UN General Assembly session on reparations.

Today, I sent a letter to Governor Hochul alongside 21 of my colleagues urging her to hold the line on taxing NYC's wealthy corporations. It's a crucial step towards overcoming our budget deficit & funding the services New Yorkers deserve. @CityAndStateNY (1/3)

In a humane world, alleged shoplifting would not result in sudden death. We will continue to monitor the inquiry into Vincent Thoms' death in custody. With a new administration in place, the City must urgently move to ensure the safety of all in custody. nydailynews.com/2026/03/23/har…

The budget process is often opaque, which gives power to the few. So we're putting a new tool in everyday New Yorkers' hands; use our Build-A-Budget feature to experiment with ways to balance the city budget. However you play it, we need to tax the rich. advocate.nyc.gov/BuildABudget

Trump has taken his Congressional funding squabbles to America's airports—when we should be prioritizing airport safety. It's everyday people who will suffer, and workers going without pay. Know your rights as ICE's airport deployments begin, via @ACLU: aclu.org/know-your-righ…