Dr. Steve Auerbach of Health Justice for New York calls for enforcement
Dr. Steve Auerbach of Health Justice for New York says the audit shows sanctuary laws need actual enforcement and consequences for violators, including DOC and NYPD. He supports S.4814, calls on Senator Schumer to whip votes, and urges pressure on private hospitals to obey laws.
Hi, I'm Dr.
Steve Auerbach with Health and Justice for New York.
Thank you for having us again in front of this committee.
Wish it wasn't so necessary.
We have supported in the past on 2025 in 214, 1268, 1272, and 1412.
And earlier this year, 55 and 261.
And of course, the New York Trust Act and 395 and 396, which I think we'll be getting new numbers.
We support all of those.
And of course, the mayor's executive order 13.
What has been shown with the audit is that there needs to be actual enforcement, including consequences, for persons who violate existing sanctuary laws and the executive order.
That needs to include...
And it is politically tough, but it needs to include if you're going to actually have law enforcement equal under the law for everybody,
members of DOC, NYPD, et cetera, who violate existing statute and executive order.
Number one.
Number two, we support, of course, S-4814.
We call on our joint Senator Schumer to use his powers majority.
leader to whip the handful of Democrats who have not signed on to it, including in our neighbor, Connecticut.
We also co-wrote with Attorney General James and feel very proud of the New York State Law Legislature Safe Access to Care Act that was mentioned earlier.
It is carried by Rivera S10494 and AM Forest A11537.
And we would call on both passage in the New York State Legislature and perhaps a copycat legislation at the city level.
And finally, I really want to call upon, and this is my main message, I want to call upon the city council and the mayor to use
whatever means necessary, whether it's the bully pulpit or calling stakeholders together to involve the...
Private voluntary hospitals, whether it's individually or through their group, the Greater New York Hospital Association, Hospital Association, State of New York, to also obey these laws.
Senior management at some of those hospitals, including their boards of directors, include MAGA supporters, and they have been very reticent
to follow New York City and New York state law, and there needs to be consequences.
There are levers, including zoning, taxes, and licensing of facilities.
licensing that can be brought to bear if they're non-cooperative.
We need enforcement.
Thank you for your time.