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Thousands of Distressed Homeowners Will Be Left in the Lurch by Imminent Loss of State Funding for Foreclosure Prevention
Elected Officials, Advocates and Homeowners Call for Funding in New York State’s Budget for Foreclosure Prevention
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Empire Justice Statement on Governor Cuomo’s State of the State Address
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AARP and Empire Justice Center Press Release: Time to Leave Finger Prints Behind
Announcing the release of "Time to Leave Finger Prints Behind, Fair Hearings in NYC Show How Unfair Finger Imaging is for New Yorkers
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Statewide Campaign to Save the Foreclosure Prevention Services Program Press Release re: Assembly Hearing
Campaign members traveled from all over the state to New York City to testify at Assembly Hearings on Foreclosure to underscore the critical role funding from the Foreclosure Prevention Services Program plays in allowing them to help save homes in their communities.
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Dickerson Decision: Clears up Civil Union Confusion in the Courts and Brings Long Awaited Justice to Victim
In a landmark decision in the case of Dickerson v. Thompson, the Appellate Division, Third Department, reversed a lower court’s ruling and granted dissolution of a Vermont civil union for lifelong New York resident and victim of intimate partner abuse, Audrey Dickerson. Dickerson sought relief in New York because, as a non-resident of Vermont, she was unable to dissolve her civil union there.
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NYS Senate Advances Bill that Would Open Door to Predatory Lending
New Yorkers for Responsible Lending, a statewide coalition of 151 groups, called on the state Senate today to withdraw a bill that would permit check cashers to make usurious small-dollar loans, and would open the door to predatory payday lending, which the state has long prohibited.
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Consumer Advocates: FDIC Action Shows RALs are Unsafe and Unsound ()
Consumer advocates at the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) and Consumer Federation of America (CFA) applauded the FDIC’s most recent action against Republic Bank & Trust of Kentucky, the last of the refund anticipation loan (RAL) lenders.
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Home Mortgage Lending Plummets in Neighborhoods of Color
Access to mortgage refinance loans sharply declined in communities of color – and increased substantially in predominantly white neighborhoods, according to a report released today by a multistate collaboration of regional research, policy and advocacy organizations, including Empire Justice Center....
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Veto of Foreclosure Prevention Services Severs Lifeline for Homeowners
Legal services and housing counseling providers across the state decried Governor Cuomo’s veto of $1.5 million in foreclosure prevention services funding which was put in the budget by the Assembly Majority in a last ditch effort to keep the program alive through the end of the state fiscal year.
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Flood of Foreclosures Expected Just as Funding to Help Homeowners Dries Up
New analysis of data from the Federal Reserve of New York shows that the foreclosure crisis in New York is far from over – and without legislative action to provide funding for the state’s “Foreclosure Prevention Services Program,” thousands of homeowners will have little help in saving their homes when foreclosure strikes.
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New Rules Kick in for Social Security and SSI on May 1 (National Consumer Law Center)
Beginning May 1, 2011, elders, veterans, and the disabled can rest a bit easier as a new federal rule kicks in that will limit creditors’ ability to seize funds from Social Security, Social Supplemental Income (SSI), VA, and other federal benefits held in bank accounts in favor of direct deposit or prepaid cards
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Rochester Consumer Attorney Ruhi Maker Contributes to Federal Commission’s “Financial Crisis Inquiry Report”
Empire Justice Center is pleased to publicly congratulate Ruhi Maker, Senior Attorney in our Rochester office for her contributions to the National Commission on the Causes of the Financial and Economic Crisis in the United States’ final report.
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Empire Justice Center Elects Officers and New Board Members
Empire Justice Center is pleased to announce the election of two new members to its Board of Directors.
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AARP and Capital Region Nutrition Groups Launch Statewide Campaign to Fight Hunger among Older New Yorkers
During the weeks October 25 and November 1, organizations will be working together to connect older adults to food programs and benefits that can provide access to nutritious food and meals.
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The River Runs Dry: Decreased Access to Mortgage Credit in Rochester’s Underserved Neighborhoods
A report released today by the Empire Justice Center in Rochester documents a dramatic decrease in prime mortgage lending made between 2006 and 2008, and highlights that low-income communities and neighborhoods of color were hardest hit by the drop-off in lending.
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State Bar Urges Vital Funding for Civil Legal Services to be Included in Emergency Budget Appropriations (New York State Bar Association)
President Getnick Renews the Call to Ensure Access to Justice for all New Yorkers.
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Press Release: Paying More for the American Dream IV
Study finds TARP-supported banks reduced lending to communities of color dramatically in Rochester, New York and six other cities across the nation.
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New Yorkers for Responsible Lending Announce 2010 Reform Platform
New Yorkers for Responsible Lending today rallied in Albany and unveiled the coalition’s policy priorities for 2010. Advocates called for the immediate passage of state legislation to curb abusive debt collection practices and for the strengthening of New York’s foreclosure prevention laws.
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Empire Justice Joins with Better Choice Budget Campain in Calling for State to Balance Budget by Raising Revenues, Not Cutting by Critical Services (A Better Choice for New York)
Campaign launches TV ads focused on closing corporate tax loopholes and asking wall street to help bail out Main Street.
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Statewide "Loan Modification Scam Alert" Campaign Launched
Statewide “Loan Modification Scam Alert” Campaign Launched As Part of NYS Consumer Protection Board’s Annual Consumer Action Day. Event Also Offered a Variety of Free, Confidential Assistance to New Yorkers.
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Advocates Join Together to Urge Governor and the Legislature to Make "Better Choices" to Balance State Budget (A Better Choice for NY)
Members of the Better Choice Budget Campaign joined together today to urge the Governor and the Legislature to explore alternatives to state budget cuts that would further erode jobs and desperately needed services.
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New Yorkers for Responsible Lending Announces 2010 Reform Platform
150 Groups Call on Albany Lawmakers to Prohibit Abusive Debt Collection and Strengthen NY’s Foreclosure Prevention Laws
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Empire Justice Center Releases 'Mending the Patchwork' Report
A report examining county by county inequities in child care subsidy administration in New York State.
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Media Advisory: Access to Child Care Assistance Varies Wildly Across the State
NEW REPORT: Access to Child Care Assistance Varies Wildly Across the State - Families With Same Income, Number of Kids Treated Differently Just Because They Live in a Different County!
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Empire Justice Center Elects Officers and New Board Members
Empire Justice Center is pleased to announce the Board's election of executive officers and three new members to its Board of Directors.
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NYRL Praises Governor and Legislature for Timely Passage of Foreclosure Prevention Bill
New Yorkers for Responsible Lending hails swift action by the New York State Legislature, which passed landmark legislation on Monday that will help reduce foreclosures; protect tenants in foreclosed properties; and relieve local governments from maintaining properties when foreclosures occur.
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New York's Budget Negotiation Should Not Jeopardize Critical Medicaid Services for Vulnerable New Yorkers
Cuts to so-called Optional Medicaid Services are not optional at all.
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The Federal Reserve Board Announces Final Rules (Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System)
The Federal Reserve Board has announced final rules that prohibit financial institutions from charging consumers fees for paying overdrafts on automated teller machine (ATM) and one-time debit card transactions, unless a consumer consents, or opts in, to the overdraft service for those types of transactions.
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NYRL Supports Immediate Passage of Legislation to Prevent Foreclosures
NYS Responsible Lending Coalition calls on legislature to pass critically-needed Foreclosure Prevention bill.
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Empire Justice Joins Advocates to Decry Mid-Year Cuts
Press release announcing the press conference organized by New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, the Fiscal Policy Institute, Empire Justice Center and others to talk about alternatives to Governor Paterson's proposed DRP.
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Governor Paterson Issues Executive Order 21 Establishing the Governor's Task Force on the Prevention of Childhood Lead Poisoning (NYS Governer's website)
State Agencies Will Collaborate on the Development of a Coordinated Strategy to Eradicate Childhood Exposure to Lead
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Report Finds That Communities of Color in NYS May Have Inadequate Access to Homeowner's Insurance
Analysis by Empire Justice Center suggests that minority communities and neighborhoods with high vacancy rates have higher concentrations of “insurance of last resort.”
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Advocates Achieve Settlement with Suffolk County Department of Social Services
Empire Justice Center and the National Center for Law and Economic Justice (NCLEJ) today announced a settlement with Suffolk County Department of Social Services (SCDSS) that will ensure that needy families and individuals, including those who have recently lost their jobs and those whose wages are insufficient to meet their needs, will have their applications for Food Stamps and Medicaid processed within the time frames required by state and federal law.
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New York State Introduces Groundbreaking Bill to Crack Down on Debt Collection Industry Abuses
State coalition praises bill to curb rampant industry abuses.
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Advocates Applaud the Governor and the Legislature for Approving a Budget that Maintains Access to Vital Prescription Drug Benefits for Seniors
The 2009-2010 State Budget acknowledges the difficulties low-income seniors face obtaining prescriptions through Medicare Part D plans.
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Press Release - Paying More for the American Dream III
This report examines the impact of CRA in seven metropolitan areas in the United States: Chicago; New York City; Los Angeles; Rochester, NY; Boston; Charlotte, and Cleveland.
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Advocates Call on Legislature to Stop Proposed RX Cuts to the Elderly and Poor
Governor's Budget Eliminates EPIC and Medicaid Wrap Coverage for Prescription Drugs
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Statement on Governor Paterson’s Investment in Civil Legal Services
The legal services community applauds Gov. Paterson for acting so quickly to address the growing need for access to justice. The Governor's action today through his 30 day amendment to restore a basic level of funding for civil legal services indicates a strong level of support from the Governor and demonstrates a working partnership with the Legislature to restore funding for these critical services.
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Empire Justice Center Attorney Named to Federal Reserve’s Consumer Advisory Council
The Federal Reserve System’s Board of Governors appointed Empire Justice Center’s Senior Consumer Law Attorney Kirsten Keefe to its Consumer Advisory Council on January 7.
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Civil Legal Services Advocates Respond to Gov. Paterson’s State of the State Address
Complete Elimination of Civil Legal Services Hurts Low-Income New Yorkers and New York’s Economy
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Empire Justice Center Praises State Senate For Acting to Stop Thousands of Children from Being Poisoned by Lead in their Homes Each Year
Empire Justice Center advocates applauded the State Senate today for passing the Childhood Lead Poisoning Primary Prevention and Safe Housing Act (S.6350/A.6399), a landmark bill to identify housing with lead hazards and provide tax credits to prevent thousands of children in New York from being permanently and irreversibly damaged by lead poisoning.
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Empire Justice Center one of only two New York organizations to receive grant to help borrowers in crisis
In the wake of historic levels of subprime mortgage foreclosures, the Institute for Foreclosure Legal Assistance (IFLA), a project of the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) announced it has awarded $6.5 million in grants to 27 legal-aid offices in 19 states and the District of Columbia.
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Public Interst Advocates File Lawsuit for Health Insurance
The parents of five New York State children filed a federal lawsuit in the Southern District of New York today challenging the Bush Administration’s use of unpublished rules to reject New York State’s proposed plan to provide discounted health insurance to children in moderate income families through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (“SCHIP”).
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Spitzer State of the State Message Brings Message of Hope and Unity
Advocates from the Empire Justice Center expressed optimism as they watched Governor’s Spitzer’s State of the State address today.
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Advocates Applaud Governor Spitzer
Advocates Applaud Governor Spitzer Proposing Needed Improvements in Health Coverage, Housing and Increasing Child Support to Low Income Children in a Difficult Budget Year.
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Low income disabled families claim victory as State actions found illegal
After over three years of litigation the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance has issued an Administrative Directive that directs local social services districts to return millions of dollars that have been illegally withheld from low income families on welfare struggling to care for disabled family members.
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Senator Schumer Reveals: Buffalo's Rent to Own Industry Ripping off Thousands
Senator Schumer reveals a new survey that showed Buffalo's rent to own industry using deceitful lease agreements.
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Report Highlights Racial Disparities in Mortgage Lending By Country’s Largest Lenders
Today at the Federal Reserve Board Consumer Advisory Council meeting, a collaboration of advocacy agencies, including Empire Justice Center, released a report showing that the largest lenders making both prime and subprime loans have a disproportionate share of their higher cost loans going to minority borrowers across the nation.
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Children in Poverty: Statewide Numbers Mask Local Realities
The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance recently announced that childhood poverty is at its lowest level since 1980. While the statewide data is accurate, they potentially mask disturbing county-by-county trends in child poverty.
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Getting to Work Still A Problem for Welfare Participants
Report Shows Wide Variation in Local Transportation Policies.
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