As the City’s Public Advocate, Jenifer will use legal action to hold government and corporate giants accountable. An ivy league and Stanford Law educated attorney ranked by SuperLawyers, she has what it takes to transform the Public Advocate’s office into a legal powerhouse for everyday New Yorkers. With a track record of winning high-impact cases for workers, tenants, and vulnerable communities, Assemblywoman Rajkumar will deploy legal action to confront the bureaucratic failures harming millions of city residents.  She will immediately initiate these cases in her first 100 Days as Public Advocate.

A Legal Powerhouse for the People

Under New York City Charter §24, the Public Advocate has the authority to sue city agencies, corporations, and even the federal government for failing to protect New Yorkers’ rights. During the current Public Advocate's tenure, this function of the office has been severely curtailed. 

Jenifer brings the legal background and vision necessary to rekindle the office’s investigatory and litigation powers.  Jenifer’s litigation plan will target three urgent crises:

• Jenifer will sue the Department of Homeless Services for failure  to place eligible families into permanent, affordable, supportive housing. Thousands of vacant units sit empty while families sleep in shelters.
  Jenifer will sue the MTA for failure to provide safe, reliable, and accessible public transit- especially for working-class New Yorkers, seniors, and people with disabilities who depend on it every day.

• Jenifer will sue publicly funded health care giants that deny critical mental health and addiction treatment. These private providers rake in government dollars while fueling New York’s mental health and homelessness crises through systemic neglect.

• Jenifer will sue the federal government for any rollbacks to Medicaid coverage, a critical lifeline for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers.  She will also seek to remove federal Medicaid work requirements that would unjustly strip health care from seniors and people with disabilities — violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and threatening the wellbeing of thousands of New Yorkers.

“We must take action and get results,” said Assemblywoman Rajkumar, “It’s about showing up for New Yorkers failed by systems that should protect them.”

A Watchdog With Teeth

Assemblywoman Rajkumar’s legal-first approach on advocacy represents a clear break from status quo politics. With deep experience in the courtroom and communities, she is committed to transforming the Public Advocate’s office from a symbolic role into a relentless force for justice.

“New Yorkers need a Public Advocate who fights - not just speaks. I’ve won cases others thought were impossible, and I’m ready to bring that same passion to the Public Advocate’s Office.”

A Function Lost

Regrettably, the legal function of the Public Advocate’s Office was minimized by the current Public Advocate, Jumaane Williams, whose only lawsuit, filed in 2021, targeted a procedural matter involving property tax warrants, and yielded no material benefit to New Yorkers.  Jenifer will bring real teeth to the Public Advocate’s Office, which has been dormant under Williams’ tenure.