Archives
Congratulations to Our 2020 Outstanding Pro Bono Service Awardees
by Cheryl LopezOctober 28, 2020
In observance of the American Bar Association’s National Celebration of Pro Bono this year, on Monday, October 26th, the City Bar Justice Center held a virtual gathering to celebrate our 2020 Outstanding Pro Bono Service Awardees. This celebration marked a significant moment as the City Bar Justice Center and leaders of the New York City Bar Association commemorated the tremendous response of ten volunteer attorneys from each of our civil justice projects who rose to meet the challenges of 2020.
Read more
The Impact of COVID-19 on New York Self-Storage Facilities
by CBJC StaffOctober 27, 2020
The State of New York, like almost every other state, has issued various executive orders and passed numerous pieces of legislation to provide relief to millions of its residents who face eviction or foreclosure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more
Helping NYC Small Businesses Survive Through and After the Pandemic
by Akira Arroyo, Esq.October 5, 2020
More small businesses in New York City have permanently closed since March 1, than in any other large American city. According to a report by the Partnership for New York City, when the pandemic eventually subsides, roughly one-third of the city’s 240,000 small businesses may never reopen, having already shed 520,000 jobs.
Read more
Attention New York Homeowners: Foreclosure Moratorium for FHFA and FHA Loans Are Extended Until the End of 2020
by Sofia Colosimo and K. Scott Kohanowski, Esq.September 8, 2020
On August 27th, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced an extension of the foreclosure moratoria in place for homeowners with mortgages backed by Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) until at least December 31st, 2020.
Read more
Protecting Struggling, Underserved New York City Veterans
by CBJC StaffSeptember 1, 2020
The Veterans Assistance Project (VAP) recently testified before the New York State Legislature on behalf of the City Bar Justice Center (CBJC). Logan Campbell, VAP’s Project Coordinator, spoke at the joint public hearing which focused on protecting the state’s estimated 800,000 disadvantaged veterans as they struggle amid the COVID-19 crisis. VAP advised against potential cuts in funding for veteran legal services and warned that this could create additional barriers for poor veterans living in New York City.
Read more
How a NYC Frontline Healthcare Worker Protected Her Family during the COVID-19 Outbreak
by Nancy LarcherAugust 26, 2020
As New York City became the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City Bar Justice Center’s (CBJC) Planning and Estates Law Project (PELP) stepped up to support our city’s dedicated frontline healthcare workers. In March 2020, with the support of outstanding pro bono collaborators, PELP launched an initiative to expand existing services to provide free remote legal assistance to our City’s frontline healthcare workers.
Read more
Seniors Beware: COVID-19 Scammers are Targeting You!
by Vivienne Duncan, Esq.August 21, 2020
While New York City was reeling from the deadly impact of the COVID-19 crisis, scammers viewed the crisis as another opportunity to target seniors, finding new ways – or adapting old ones – to trick them into parting with their money or revealing valuable personal information. Many times, they find their victims in the same timeworn way –through unsolicited telephone calls. Here are some of the current scams that you should look out for:
Read more
Tracking COVID-19 in NYC through Calls to the Legal Hotline
by Libby Vazquez, Esq.August 19, 2020
In March 2020 (yes, that was five months ago!), COVID-19 swept through our city. The pandemic devasted and disproportionately impacted low-income communities served by the City Bar Justice Center (CBJC). CBJC’s Legal Hotline which normally assists over 1,000 callers a month, fell eerily quiet. The residents of our city were ordered to stay home; many … Continue reading Tracking COVID-19 in NYC through Calls to the Legal Hotline
Read more
Undocumented and Underserved: Supporting Immigrants in NYC Amid the Pandemic
by Cecilia Lopez Santiesteban, Esq. - Fragomen FellowAugust 12, 2020
Earlier this year, before the pandemic, the City Bar Justice Center’s (CBJC) Immigrant Justice Project hosted a legal assistance clinic where participants were screened for immigration relief options. During the legal clinic, *Laura, a woman from El Salvador, was terrified to speak to volunteer attorneys about her immigration case – she feared disclosing personal information would place her at risk for deportation.
Read more