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Dear New Yorkers,

When you have to appear in housing court, or when you are arrested and charged with a crime, you have a right to legal representation.

By law, anyone who needs legal representation in Housing Court as a respondent and earns less than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines is eligible for free legal representation by publicly paid attorneys.

And anyone who is charged with a crime — felony or otherwise — who can’t pay for their own lawyer must have one appointed to them.

The city’s network of public defenders are typically the first line of defense for people without the means to pay a private lawyer, with defender organizations currently handling between 80% and 90% of all criminal cases in New York City.

But the “Right to Counsel” program for Housing Court has not been implemented evenly; access is far from universal for people facing eviction. And understanding public defenders, and what to expect when one is appointed to you or someone you know, can be complex.

To help clear things up, THE CITY has put together guides on what to know about public defenders and your right to a free attorney, as well as how to get free legal help for evictions and Housing Court cases.

Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Monday’s Weather Rating: 8/10. Partly cloudy and warmer, with high temperatures in the mid-60s. A bit of a chilly wind at times, but this is a big improvement. Go watch the eclipse, the vibes are good!

Our Other Top Stories

The region is getting over the shock — and hopefully the aftershocks — of last Friday’s 4.8 magnitude earthquake. Here’s what to know about the quake and what to keep an eye out for in the coming days, such as possible damage to your building. Speaking of damage to your building: here is THE CITY’s guide to spotting and reporting hazardous problems in your home, office or neighborhood.

Things To Do

Here’s what’s going on around the city this week.

Monday, April 8: Watching the solar eclipse in town? Try Green-Wood Cemetery, which is hosting a celebration with astronomers, music and food vendors or the many viewing events hosted by Urban Park Rangers across the boroughs, all starting at 1:30 p.m. Don’t forget your glasses! Saturday, April 13: The 2024 New York Restoration Project Tree Giveaway kicks off. Free trees will be available at various times and locations across the five boroughs. Registration required. Monday, April 15: Written Work: Poetry, Labor, and the Global City, the kickoff event of the New York Public Library’s World Literature Festival — a book party “unpacking the pleasures and pain of working in the city.” Free from 6:30 p.m. online and in-person at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library.

THE KICKER: In addition to the solar eclipse, the terrifyingly named “devil comet” may also become visible from the Northern Hemisphere today. Good luck out there.

Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Monday.

Love,

THE CITY

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