New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, has stepped back from representing Governor Kathy Hochul, also a Democrat, in a legal case concerning New York City’s “right-to-shelter” policy. This development comes as the city faces significant difficulties in providing housing for a record number of migrants arriving from the southern border. A court filing on Thursday revealed that a private law firm, Selendy Gay Elsberg PLLC, will now represent the state defendants going forward, replacing the attorney general.
The legal proceedings revolve around a long-standing “right-to-shelter” law in New York City, which requires the state to offer shelter to anyone in need. Mayor Eric Adams of New York City has expressed his commitment to upholding this mandate, but he has encountered challenges due to the wave of migrants arriving from the southern border. Over the past year, close to 100,000 asylum seekers have arrived in New York City, and Adams has asserted that the city lacks the necessary resources to provide adequate shelter. The State Supreme Court has now intervened, urging the state to provide more assistance, but Governor Hochul has indicated some resistance to this demand.
The court has directed Mayor Adams to submit a list of his needs to Governor Hochul by Wednesday, and he met this deadline earlier this week. Governor Hochul now has until August 15th to respond, as ordered by the judge.
In remarks made on Thursday, Governor Hochul reportedly expressed her inclination to help but emphasized that she did not want the “right to shelter” to extend to the entire state. According to The New York Times, she stated, “We believe — and I’m convinced — that the right to shelter is the result of a consent decree undertaken by the City of New York. The state is not a party to that, so the right to shelter does not expand to the whole of the state.”
According to multiple reports, sources close to Attorney General James suggest that her decision to cease representing the state stems from “fundamental policy disagreements with the governor over the state’s role in managing the crisis.” This information was relayed to The New York Times.
It is worth noting that the image accompanying this article shows a photo taken at the U.S.-Mexico border, illustrating the context of the migrant crisis.
In conclusion, New York Attorney General Letitia James will no longer represent Governor Kathy Hochul in a legal case concerning New York City’s “right-to-shelter” policy amid the challenges of housing a record number of migrants. This change entails the appointment of a private law firm as the new legal representation for the state defendants. The court is urging the state to provide more assistance, while Governor Hochul has expressed her willingness to help but does not want the “right to shelter” to extend beyond New York City. Attorney General James’s decision to step back is reportedly motivated by policy disagreements with the governor. The situation remains ongoing, and further developments are expected in the coming weeks.