In a contentious decision that has both legal and fiscal implications for New York City, the City Council is preparing to override Mayor Eric Adams' veto of a piece of legislation focused on sexual abuse survivors' rights. The bill in question seeks to extend a new 18-month "lookback" window, thereby allowing victims of sexual abuse to file lawsuits regardless of when the abuse occurred. This includes the resurrection of hundreds of cases, such as those by individuals who allege abuse while detained at the city’s juvenile detention centers. In a unanimous decision last month, the Council passed the "Gender Motivated Violence Act," which stirred this significant political clash.
Mayor Adams, in a statement released on Christmas Eve, highlighted concerns about the steep financial burden that the new legislation could impose on the city. The Mayor's Office, in projections obtained by the New York Post, speculated that the bill could cost the city up to $1 billion, raising the specter of either slashed services or tax increases. Adams criticized the bill’s proponents for seemingly pushing the bill forward at the behest of Levy Konigsberg LLP, a law firm representing a significant number of plaintiffs. The Mayor characterized the bill as providing a $300 million "debit card" at the taxpayers' expense, for this one firm.
Responding to the Mayor's criticism, Julie Menin, the incoming City Council Speaker, expressed that these fiscal concerns were never broached during the bill's hearings or negotiations. "The Mayor's veto message suddenly mentions a price tag to the City that was simply never raised in their testimony at the hearing," Menin told Gothamist. However, Menin, along with the City Council, maintains a firm stance in support of the survivors, citing their critical testimonies as driving forces for the bill’s passage. She confirmed the Council's intent to vote to override the mayor's veto.
Jerome Block, a partner at Levy Konigsberg, hit back at the Mayor by stating, "Mayor Adams is slandering lawyers in a transparent effort to deflect attention from his callous veto that is attempting to deprive survivors of their legal rights," Gothamist reported. Similarly, Jordan Merson, an attorney who represents individuals abused by Jeffrey Epstein, shared his dismay over Adams’ action, emphasizing that the veto came as a shock, as concerns were not raised during the chances provided to the Mayor's team.
The City Council boasts an overwhelming majority supporting the legislation, with the necessary two-thirds threshold to override the mayoral veto evidently within reach.
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