Public Advocates Office of Ny - New York, New York

Theresa G.

Public Advocates Office of NY is not the advocate New York needs or deserves. Born and raised in New York City, I emailed this office MULTIPLE times in 2024. No response by the Public Advocate forced me to WALK [13.8 miles round trip] to the office for in-person assistance [NYC MTA trains not available for MULTIPLE reasons that are OBVIOUS to New Yorkers AND advocates, including $2.90 train fare, which is far too expensive for MANY law-abiding citizens who PAY instead of evading the far; violence against women in the subway is another reason I was forced to walk--an office advocating for New York would not be surprised by ANYTHING in my review]. The office was CLOSED (Google reported it open). I made a video, in front of the closed office door, to inform the office: 1. the office is unresponsive, even to multiple sent communications, 2. New Yorkers are in need of assistance--and we deserve to be assisted. I left behind a typed communication I brought with me to ensure my issue was documented for the office. Shortly thereafter (perhaps a few days, I'd have to refer back to the communications: I have been busy resolving a myriad of PUBLIC SERVICE issues due to lack of support from this and other offices) I received a short, unhelpful communication from the office. I visited AGAIN in-person, I was "helped" by a useful female who told me I must contact Senator Gillibrand if drones are flying outside of home in violation of a New York City Drone rule, and I was not being assisted by NYPD or FAA. I have zero confidence in ANY person associated with the Public Advocate Office of NY to be an effective advocate for New York or New Yorkers. Jumaane D. Williams has failed as Public Advocate.

Tiya

Reached out to the public advocates office regarding wrongful handling of my application with HOUSING CONNECT back in December of 2023. Explained how housing connect request one set of documents from me for an apartment (in the city- LYRA) I was potential eligible for and then went and CHANGED those required documents to a different set of documents and then denied me the apartment saying “unable to determine income”, even after I STILL sent them the documents. I went through all steps to appeal which they tell you your deadline to appeal is on one day when in actuality the cut your appeal time off the night before (no where is that in writing for those individuals that have no idea), argue, “fight”. I reached out to 311 who explained to me that I could contact the public advocates office if I feel my application was wrongfully handled. As I said, I started this process with PUBLIC “ADVOCATES” office in December it is now March and even after my conversation with Melissa (who “handled” my situation) she still did not understand the “assignment. I do not believe I was advocated for by this office. Melissa basically returned the same response given by the marketing manager of the property. Not sure how much advocating was done once I explained the entire situation to her. She then tells me if I choose to go further with and investigation. I can reach out to the Department if Investigations office, which they don’t even handle Housing connect issues. If you’re in need of help with any issues in the the city don’t look to them to help/advocate for you!

Maureen F.

I'm so disappointed in the decline in this office; the pandemic came along, and the staff just disappeared--not clearing out voicemails, not responding to emails, and if you get a call, the person doesn't know what the complaint is. I was blind transferred to someone who didn't know that The Public Advocate also serves as an ombudsman for city government, providing oversight for city agencies, investigating citizens' complaints about city services and making proposals to address perceived shortcomings or failures of those services. #GOV101

Kate S.

Warning : Public Advocate John Francis doesn’t not have the best interest of poor New Yorkers. I reached to his office a few weeks ago. He met with me via Zoom. He promised to write a letter to a judge on behalf after the “General Counsel” gave him “permission to do so. Things went left as soon as I expressed “my opinion” that NYC has abandoned the best interest of poor New Yorkers John Francis randomly blocked me. He ended all communication with me as if I’m not allowed to express my opinion & frustrations as a poor New Yorker. John Francis is a perfect example of this : if it doesn’t not politically advance the interest of this office then doing the work they take an oath / are hired to do means absolutely nothing to them. This office is has slumlords best interest at heart & not the interest of the people that need them the most; poor New Yorkers

I am a 42 that has spent the last 7 years overcoming mental health issue, finally earned my right to go back to school to complete my degree & now I’m facing eviction for standing up for my right to live in mold free conditions. I’m facing being homeless because this office as well as NYC Court System has failed to uphold the law. This office as well as NYC Housing Court allowed Jospeh Bruman to process a eviction against me as retaliation for making “good faith complaints” to NYC 311, DOB + HPD & obtaining a personal injury lawyer that filed a personal injury lawsuit against Bruman Reality for leaving me living w/ mold since May 2020. As a result I ended up with asthma as well as an iron deficiency. The law is simple ::

N.Y. Real. Prop. Law§ 223-b. Retaliation by landlord against tenant. 1. No landlord of
premises or units to which this section is applicable shall serve a
notice to quit upon any tenant or commence any action to recover real
property or summary proceeding to recover possession of real property in
retaliation for:

a. A good faith complaint, by or in behalf of the tenant, to the
landlord, the landlord's agent or a governmental authority of the
landlord's alleged violation of any health or safety law, regulation,
code, or ordinance, the warranty of habitability

3. A landlord shall be subject to a civil action for damages, attorney's fees and costs and other appropriate relief, including
injunctive and other equitable remedies, as may be determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction in any case in which the landlord has violated the provisions of this section.

4. In any action to recover real property or summary proceeding to
recover possession of real property, judgment shall be entered for the tenant if the court finds that the landlord is acting in retaliation for any action set forth in paragraphs a, b, and c of subdivision one of this section. Retaliation shall be asserted as an affirmative defense in such action or proceeding. The tenant shall not be relieved of the obligation to pay any rent for which he is otherwise liable.

NYC Tenants have no true rights & John Francis as well as this office is proof that the power is in the hands of slumlords. What good are laws if NYC Housing Court has not accountability to oversee their process? This office is a waste of tax payers money. What NYC truly needs is an Office of Accountability to investigate NYC Housing Courts & all govt agencies such as this office to ensure they are doing the very jobs they’re hired & elected to do. The day that 1875 Atlantic caves in/collapses from cracks as well as mold in the buildings foundation will be the day that this office realizes they dropped the ball with ensuring the residents that live in 1875 are protected. It may not be today but one day this review will help the attorneys that will sue NYC the same way attorneys sued the city of Miami when that building collapsed.

Charles M.

Over the last 40 years I have asked the Public Advocates Office of NY for help when NY state refused to pay a tax refund; as well as for help to get my 40 year old NYC employment records; and for their help about ten different times to get nonpaying health insurers to pay up for myself or my family.
The NYC Public Advocates Office helped me get a fast apology and money within about ten days or any other help that I sought.
I have recommended them to friends with problems.
They have never failed me. Five stars.

I have also received excellent results for other problems from the NYC Consumer Affairs Department and NYS Financial Services when a travel insurer seemed to be cheating and under-paying.
NYC and NYS will help you, if you can show that you have been treated unfairly.

Marceline P.

Noah Koy and Steven Scandole from the Public Advocate's office were both incompetent AND unhelpful with helping me get my repairs completed when their counterpart incompetent agency HPD was no where to be found! NYC needs to do better, this new mayor meeds to clean house and hire people who know how to get RESULTS!!

SJ

Telephone number on the internet wrong called 311 gave me another number called the number left my name and number no response at all. What public service is this?

Sharee J.