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Q&A

Chair Stevens Questions Embedding Language Access in Government

New York City Council · May 28, 2026 · starts 5:42:56 · 43 sec

Chair Althea Stevens asks about efforts to embed language access as a core government function, referencing a recent memo issued to city agencies.

Luisa Linares

I think part of it is also like having an ongoing uh you know, uh communication with these agencies.

Luisa Linares

You know, after that convening, DM Sue, um, Deputy Mary Julie Sue and I um actually issued a memo to all the local law authority agencies just reiterating not just compliance, I think that we we need to have a larger conversation about how do we achieve language justice.

Luisa Linares

Um, and so we talked um uh in that um you know memo about how we're in embedding language access really as a core government function.

Luisa Linares

So to your point, it is absolutely the law, but we can go deeper than the spirit of the law if we really want to ensure equitable access for immigrant New Yorkers.