2024 Brooklyn Legal Services Champion of Justice Awards

The Honorable Judge Betty Staton is retiring as President of Brooklyn Legal Services after 12 years of steadfast leadership. Staton has had an illustrious career. After her initial role as a staff attorney and deputy director of Bedford Stuyvesant Community Legal Services, she became a founding partner of Boyd, Staton & Cave, the first African-American female law firm in the country in 1987. She then served for almost 20 years as a Kings County Family Court Judge. Staton has also taught at several colleges, served as a board member for numerous community organizations, and received notable awards for her community service. To make a donation in honor of Betty, please click here.

The APTTC is one of the largest tenants’ councils in Brooklyn, representing the interests of over 700 tenants in the Atlantic Plaza Towers in Ocean Hill. Brooklyn Legal Services’ Tenant Rights Coalition has represented APTTC in numerous legal matters (notably, in defeating the implementation of facial recognition software at the apartment complex). More recently, BLS’ Community and Economic Development Unit assisted with updating and implementing new governance, which had not been revised since the Council’s founding in 1979. The new governance will allow the APTTC to engage tenants, better keep their Council strong, and continue advocating for relatively safe and stable affordable housing for hundreds of Brooklyn residents.

Flatbush Tenant Coalition is a member-led group of more than 100 tenant associations and 500 tenant leaders in Flatbush, East Flatbush, and South Crown Heights who work collectively to build tenant power. Brooklyn Legal Services’ Tenant Rights Coalition has closely collaborated with FTC to improve the lives of tenants and advocate for safe, decent, and affordable housing. Most recently, the TRC helped tenants who were withholding rent due to gross safety violations in their building, and was able to eliminate all alleged rent arrears and force their landlord to make repairs. The historic ruling sets a precedent that will allow tenants across NYC to hold landlords accountable for dangerous living conditions.