Blasio incorrectly claims that NYC is not responsible for the unclean conditions in courthouses

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Mayor de Blasio denied responsibility Monday for filthy public spaces of the city's criminal courthouses, as documented in a News story, stating that the facilities are state-owned.

Despite this, de Blasio's Department of Citywide Administrative Services owns the city's 29 court buildings, his Administration for Child Services is in charge of holding cells for juvenile delinquents, and the city's police and prison agencies supervise holding cell facilities for detainees.

“Maybe the mayor and DCAS should tour. I’d be happy to go with them to show them the areas,” chided Legal Aid’s chief public defender Tina Luongo.

Non-public areas in courthouses across the city are caked in filth, grime, and poor ventilation for the prisoners, lawyers, and court workers who are now returning to in-person locations after months of working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a News report published Sunday that included stomach-churning photos.

Photos were given to some daily news show black soot-covered air intake vents, sticky workstations from months of coffee spills, discolored walls, and moldy seats where attorneys meet and talk with clients for the first time.

When faced with the facts at a press conference, de Blasio said that facilities like Manhattan Criminal Court, which is located at 100 Centre St. near City Hall, aren't his concern, while conceding he didn't know "the specifics."

“Obviously, anything involving the courts, that’s the Office of Court Administration — the state,” Hizzoner said in response to a question about The News’ investigation.

“It’s a mix, to the best of my understanding. Some city-owned properties, some state-owned properties. I don’t know the specifics.”

The state-controlled Office of Court Administration is a tenant of city-owned facilities that manage general court operations.

“At best, the Mayor, once again, is ill-informed as to the operations of the New York State Court System. In New York State, by statute, while the Office of Court Administration operates the courthouses, the local municipality is responsible for both providing the facility and maintaining it,” OCA spokesman Lucian Chalfen told The News.

“So in New York City, the mayoral agency solely responsible for maintenance and cleaning is the Department of Citywide Administrative Services.”

Luongo said she didn't think it was surprising that de Blasio shrugged off responsibility for the city's criminal justice system.

“I’m not shocked that this mayor doesn’t understand after eight years his agency’s responsibilities. He’s often turned a blind eye to what’s happening in the criminal court,” said Luongo.

“The fact is that those are three city agencies all under his watch, so he should take a look at that. If he doesn’t understand, he should learn.”

When DCAS renovated ventilation facilities in the courtrooms in September 2020, the holding cells behind the attorney-client conference rooms were removed, according to The News in March. DCAS commissioner Lisette Camilo said that the cells are not under the agency's authority due to security concerns.

The answer, Luongo responded, was "unconscionable."

“Our clients are humans,” she said. “They are often detained for hours upon hours upon hours. They are members of our community. I can’t imagine that they can’t figure out between four, large, exceedingly well-funded city agencies how to work together to move people in order to open up a cell, clean it, make repairs, and make it habitable.”

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