April
2021
30
Spectrum News — Consumer groups are applauding a bill that is meant to keep debt collectors from garnishing the stimulus payments and other direct aid approved by the federal government to offset the financial strain created by the pandemic.
March
2021
2
The pandemic has placed the MTA at the center of the news, but its violations of New Yorkers’ civil rights have gone on for years. Through our NYC Financial Justice Hotline, New Economy Project has helped dozens of New Yorkers presenting the same disturbing facts: Without any notice, MTA took their tax refunds to pay old, alleged tickets they didn’t recognize.
Know your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, including how to recognize and fight back against debt collection abuse.
Know your rights when defending yourself against a creditor, debt buyer, or debt collector in civil court.
October
2020
5
ProPublica — Earlier this year, the pandemic swept across the country, killing 100,000 Americans by the spring, shuttering businesses and schools, and forcing people into their homes. It was a great time to be a debt collector.
UPDATE: On October 31, 2023, the Court granted final approval of a settlement requiring the NYC Transit Authority to provide access to crucial information so that New Yorkers facing alleged transit debt can meaningfully assert their rights. Read the basic terms of the final settlement here, and read the press release here. In February […]
June
2020
11
Systematic wealth extraction from communities of color hasn’t stopped for the public health crisis caused by COVID-19—and it won’t stop unless we transform our economy.
June
2020
8
ProPublica — Since 2018, Capital One has been a looming presence in Julio Lugo’s life, ever since the company sued him, as it did 29,000 other New Yorkers that year, over an unpaid credit card. But when the coronavirus hit the city this March, it wasn’t on his mind.
May
2020
1
The City — As the coronavirus crisis unfolded in New York, Robert McNamara thought he should take some money out of the bank, just to be safe.
On March 19, the substitute teacher and father of two figured he’d be out of work for a while. Public schools had just closed, possibly for the rest of the spring. Plus, with big swings on the stock market, he wanted a bit of cash on hand.
April
2020
29
New Economy Project strongly supports Int. 1912 and we urge the Committee to bring the bill before the full body of the NYC Council, for the swiftest possible passage into law. We commend Speaker Johnson and other sponsors of this emergency legislation for their strong leadership. New Economy Project, along with thousands of New Yorkers and more than 60 groups statewide, has been pressing Governor Cuomo to institute an emergency statewide moratorium on predatory debt collection during the COVID-19 crisis.