July

2023

21

New Economy Appeals Court Ruling that Harms NYer and Stacks Deck in Favor of Predatory Debt Collectors

A debt collector obtained a default judgment against Sharae Banks through fraud, falsely claiming that it had properly notified her when it sued her years earlier. A lower court then barred Ms. Banks from challenging the default judgment, upholding the debt collector’s blatant violations of her basic due process rights. New Economy Project has filed an appeal, joined by co-counsel and amicus NYS Attorney General Letitia James, to reverse the ruling.

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November

2021

18

Statement from 25 New York Groups Calling on Gov. Hochul to Rescind DFS Nomination

The 25 undersigned New York-based organizations call on Governor Hochul to immediately rescind her nomination of Adrienne Harris for Superintendent of the NYS Department of Financial Services (DFS). Our organizations collectively represent millions of New Yorkers, from communities across the state. We see first-hand how DFS’s actions directly affect our members and all New Yorkers, as well as our neighborhoods and the state overall.

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May

2021

26

Why NYC Must Say No to Wells Fargo and Yes to Public Banking

Today, an obscure public body, the NYC Banking Commission, will decide the fate of billions of public dollars when it meets to select which banks may hold the city’s cash for the next two years. The big question before the Commission is whether the city should resume banking with Wells Fargo after cutting ties with the scandal-ridden bank in 2017.

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May

2021

7

(Archive) Stop Debt Collectors from Taking NYers’ Stimulus Funds

The NYS Legislature has just passed a critical bill that prohibits debt collectors from taking New Yorkers’ stimulus payments. The bill will ensure that relief funds actually provide relief—not windfalls for the debt collection industry.  Take Action! Urge Governor Cuomo to sign this bill into law, to protect New Yorkers from financial predation and ensure a just recovery. Call […]

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August

2020

28

(Archive) Stop Trump Administration from Unleashing Predatory Payday Lending in NY

New York has successfully fought to keep predatory payday lending out of our state, as a matter of racial and economic justice. Now, the Trump administration is seeking to gut New York’s longstanding consumer protection laws, and open the door to high-cost lenders that exploit people who are struggling financially.

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August

2019

27

No More, Encore (take two)

Seems New Economy Project has struck a nerve. This year, Encore Capital, the country’s largest publicly-traded debt-buying company, blocked us from speaking at its annual shareholder meeting – even though our organization is a full-fledged shareholder in the company.

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January

2019

17

Statement by New York Groups re: Postal Banking

Our organizations support the concept of “postal banking,” as a potentially transformative form of public banking. As banks continue to redline New York neighborhoods — perpetuating poverty, inequality, and segregation — bold solutions like postal banking are clearly needed. Some recently-introduced proposals, however, would exacerbate our two-tiered financial system and promote debt as a solution to people’s financial struggles.

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August

2018

7

Who Approved That?

One day, Kenneth Lovell went to a local electronics store to buy a transistor radio. He left the store more than $17,000 in debt, with three bank credit cards issued in his name. How did this happen? Listen to Kenneth and his brother Patrick Lovell tell their story.

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