REMARKS
Lincoln Restler welcomes Judge Sylvia Hinds-Radix, providing context around the NYC Law Department's operations
1:26:41
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104 sec
Lincoln Restlerdiscusses the preliminary budget for the New York City Law Department.
- The law department's fiscal 25 preliminary budget totals $220,300,000, including personnel services and other than personal services.
- The law department serves as legal counsel for the city, the mayor, officials, and city agencies.
- Topics of discussion include staffing, affirmative litigation, PD settlement payouts, juvenile justice, and more.
- Concerns are raised about reduced staffing capacity affecting the department's ability to serve the city and a crisis in detention facilities impacting at-risk youth.
Lincoln Restler
1:26:41
Thank you so much.
1:26:43
Thank you, ask Jayshree.
1:26:46
I'd like to welcome court counsel, judge Sylvia Heinz Radix, the head of our law department to to testify today, The law department's fiscal 25 preliminary budget totals $220,300,000, including 145,300,000 personnel services, to support 1404 full time positions and 75,000,000 for other than personal services.
1:27:06
The law department serves as the legal counsel for the city, the mayor, very selected officials like all of us and numerous city agencies.
1:27:13
Today, we look forward to discussing the law department's operations, the new needs, and pegs included in the preliminary plan.
1:27:19
So staffing at the department, affirmative litigation, PD settlement payouts, and juvenile justice, and more.
1:27:26
Judge, I have been pleased truly to learn about your efforts to expand the ethics and risk management work of the law department.
1:27:32
I'd also like to commend you and your team regarding the recent lawsuit against social media companies and for your leadership of a national coalition of cities to safeguard access to medication abortion.
1:27:43
We have though seen a sharp decline in the law department head in recent years.
1:27:46
And I am concerned about how that reduced staffing capacity is impacting your ability, the department's ability to serve our city.
1:27:55
I am also highly concerned about a crisis unfolding in our detention facilities.
1:28:00
The number of kids in jail has doubled since mayor Adams came into this, the law department plays a critical role as the team that serves as the prosecutors in many of these cases.
1:28:09
We've seen a 44% increase in felony arrests year over year for kids.
1:28:14
While diversion rates have declined and city programs that serve at risk youth have been eliminated.
1:28:20
Judge Heinradix, I really want to thank you for being with us today.
1:28:23
We look forward to your testimony.
1:28:24
Thank you so much.