Statement in Response to Mayor de Blasio’s Comments on Courthouse Conditions

Mayor de Blasio must take responsibility for the agencies that report directly to him. Cleaning up the historically unsanitary conditions and improving ventilation in the courthouses will benefit everyone who shares these spaces and we must continue to protect those most at risk from these dangerous and preventable conditions, especially with more contagious COVID-19 variants spreading across the city. Moreover, as relaxing of mask mandates and other pandemic precautionary measures continue, it is more important than ever that the City ensures that those responsible for all of the spaces in courthouses are accountable for their actions or lack thereof. We demand immediate access for the Union’s health & safety expert to inspect the conditions in the courthouses and make recommendations to protect clients, union members and court personnel.