Protecting NYC Policy
Our Founding Fathers knew what they were doing when they wrote our Constitution. They protected federalism, dividing power between the federal government and the states.Upholding our rights as Americans is our duty—one I have spent my life doing as an attorney.
— Jim Walden
Plenty of cities are defending themselves against the Trump Administration’s brutal budget cuts. New Haven, Minneapolis, San Francisco and 13 other cities just won an injunction against the cuts. Where was New York City in that case? Nowhere. City Hall has the resources but lacks the will. Mayor Eric Adams could have directed the NYC Law Department— the largest collection of lawyers on Earth – to fight. Instead, Adams did nothing.[1] He is compromised by the Devil’s bargain he made with Washington to avoid prosecution for fraud.
New York City should be at the vanguard of protecting our citizens, our values and our independence. We are New Yorkers. We fight.
As Mayor, I will fight to protect New Yorkers and their institutions, including our colleges and universities. As Mayor, I will create a 50-lawyer unit—called the “NYC Freedoms Task Force,” staffed with elite lawyers from top firms—to defend New Yorkers from federal overreach.
And we’ll strike first, with proactive and aggressive legal action to prevent further abuse. In other words, we will take Project 2025—which outlined the federal cuts — and stop it in its tracks. We will use the doctrine of pre-enforcement standing to forcefully litigate against federal abuse. They will not steal our dignity, hobble our institutions, hurt our businesses or erode our freedoms.
DEFINE, DECLARE AND DEFEND OUR CORE VALUES
In that same vein, it is time for us to define and declare New York City’s values in its own Bill of Rights. Our constitutional system gives cities this power. The U.S. Constitution limits federal power in favor of state’s rights. New York state’s constitution provides for local control, called “Home Rule.” Once we adopt our own Bill of Rights, Washington (and Albany) must respect that declaration.
Cities like Los Angeles and Indianapolis already have Bills of Rights. New York, a beacon of diversity and freedom, deserves one and it should be in the New York City Charter.
This Bill of Rights isn’t a slogan. It’s a promise. It will give City Hall the power —and mission—to protect New Yorkers from federal, state and local abuse. A declaration of our values will lift our voices and provide another way to fend off encroachments.
FOURTEEN FREEDOMS
These are essential rights that we must guarantee to our people. These are the freedoms that define us and the foundation for the city we deserve:
Safety: To be safe in every public space.
Education: To a quality education, including proficiency in reading and math.
Sustenance: To healthy, affordable food in each neighborhood.
Scholarship: To pursue knowledge, science and art without political interference.
Free Enterprise: To do business freely without political interference.
Housing: To a safe, secure and habitable dwelling.
Environment: To parks and community gardens protected against development.
Franchise: To vote without suppression or manipulation of any kind.
Transportation: To safe, clean, and well-maintained public transit and streets.
Autonomy: To make decisions about your body, and to live in harmony with your identity, free from undue government interference.
Taxation: To fairly-apportioned taxes.
Profession: To earn a living protected from unreasonable barriers.
Diversity: To make decisions based on diversity and equity without political interference.
Healthcare: To have access to quality healthcare.
Once codified in the City Charter, these rights will be the law. They will give City Hall the power—and mission—to protect New Yorkers from state, federal, and local abuse.
These are our values. Let’s define, declare and defend them.
New York City has always been a beacon of freedom and opportunity. But without our own Bill of Rights, we’re vulnerable. It’s time to reclaim our destiny and protect what makes New York great.
You can count on me to protect your rights. Hold me accountable.
[1] The Adams administration filed one lawsuit (February 21, 2025) challenging the Trump administration’s claw back of $80m for migrant funding, ultimately abandoning its motion for preliminary injunction.