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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Amy Blumsack, Director of Organizing and Policy at Neighbors Together
4:09:01
ยท
3 min
Amy Blumsack from Neighbors Together testified about the critical role of the Commission on Civil and Human Rights (CCHR) in addressing source of income discrimination for voucher holders. She emphasized the importance of CCHR's pre-complaint intervention and set-aside program in helping their members secure housing, while also calling for increased funding and staffing for the agency.
- Requested an increase in CCHR's FY2026 budget to $21 million to restore pre-pandemic staffing levels
- Highlighted the need for higher civil penalties for large corporate landlords to effectively deter discrimination
- Advocated for CCHR to be exempt from budget cuts (PEGs) and hiring freezes, and for the ability to offer competitive salaries to attract and retain talent
Amy Blumsack
4:09:01
Hi.
4:09:01
Good afternoon.
4:09:02
Thank you, chair and committee members for the opportunity to testify.
4:09:07
Neighbors Together has worked with voucher holders for many years now.
4:09:13
We have done years worth of know your rights trainings for voucher holders on source of income discrimination and how to report it, on how to find housing with your voucher, and we also run a entire campaign created for and by voucher holders, to improve vouchers and end source of income discrimination.
4:09:32
CCHR has played a critical role in our work over the years.
4:09:36
As you know, source of income discrimination is rampant, and CCHR is the only government entity that enforces against discrimination on behalf of the individual who is discriminated against.
4:09:49
CCHR has key tools for helping voucher holders.
4:09:53
Their pre complaint intervention is critical.
4:09:56
It is the primary way that our members get housed.
4:09:59
Our members with vouchers get housed, and being housed increases our members' ability to then engage in formal litigation.
4:10:09
The set aside program that CCHR runs is also one of the top ways that we get our members housed.
4:10:15
And in addition to being housed, which is a top priority for our members, obviously, our members feel that it's really critical that civil penalties be enforced for bad actors.
4:10:27
Right?
4:10:27
For corporate landlords, the small civil penalties are not enough.
4:10:31
It's just the cost of doing business.
4:10:33
So we really wanna see the amount of civil fines be commensurate with the size of the landlord, similar to the really wonderful and large Parkchester settlement that CCHR mentioned.
4:10:46
While we have seen improvements in CCHR's responsiveness since they were able to staff up a little bit more from last since last year's budget hearing, we are still seeing that the wait times for formal complaint resolutions is very, very long, and we know that the agency is deeply underfunded and understaffed.
4:11:06
They do really important work, and now more than ever, their work is needed given the current federal climate and the attack on people's rights.
4:11:15
So our ask is the same as many others in the human rights law working group.
4:11:19
We wanna see the f y twenty six budget increase to 21,000,000.
4:11:22
We need pre pandemic staffing levels at least.
4:11:26
We need an array of staff, attorneys supporting staff, increased mediation team.
4:11:31
We need increased OTPS funding, and, we also need CCHR to be exempt from PEGS, hiring freezes, the two to one allotment process.
4:11:43
And they also should be allowed to hire at the top of the salary range.
4:11:46
Their salaries are not on par with the, like, with going rates, and so they're really being put at an unfair disadvantage when trying to bring in and retain talented people.
4:11:58
Yeah.
4:11:59
I mean, I think this is a very, as we know, dangerous and critical time.
4:12:03
And now more than ever, the people of New York need CCHR's protection, and so the city should fund them in a way that respects and honors the critical role that they play in protecting New Yorkers.
4:12:17
Thank you for your time.
4:12:18
Thank you for your attention, and thank you for leading this very long and thorough budget hearing.