Mariah McGough

Victory for Overdose Prevention: After Years of Fighting, VOCAL-NY Celebrates Gov. Hochul Signing Bills to Expand Access of Lifesaving Treatment to Jails & Prisons and Decriminalize Syringes

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, October 7, 2021 CONTACT Jasmine Budnella, Jasmine@vocal-ny.org Mariah McGough, Mariah@vocal-ny.org VICTORY FOR OVERDOSE PREVENTION: AFTER YEARS OF FIGHTING, VOCAL-NY CELEBRATES GOV. HOCHUL SIGNING BILLS TO EXPAND ACCESS OF LIFESAVING TREATMENT TO JAILS & PRISONS AND DECRIMINALIZE SYRINGES Signings are Step Towards Reversing the Negligence of the Cuomo Administration on the Overdose […]

Victory for Overdose Prevention: After Years of Fighting, VOCAL-NY Celebrates Gov. Hochul Signing Bills to Expand Access of Lifesaving Treatment to Jails & Prisons and Decriminalize Syringes Read More »

VOCAL-NY Applauds New Funding for Harm Reduction Services From Opioid Settlement Fund

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, October 5, 2021 CONTACT Jasmine Budnella, jasmine@vocal-ny.org Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY APPLAUDS NEW FUNDING FOR HARM REDUCTION SERVICES FROM OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND Attorney General Letitia James’ Held a Press Conference Today in Albany as a Part of her HealNY Tour ALBANY, N.Y. — Today, VOCAL-NY leaders stood alongside Attorney General Letitia

VOCAL-NY Applauds New Funding for Harm Reduction Services From Opioid Settlement Fund Read More »

VOCAL-NY Responds to NYT Investigation of Shelter Provider, Calls on Likely Mayor Eric Adams to Stop Funding Unscrupulous Operators

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, October 5th, 2021 CONTACT Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO NYT INVESTIGATION OF SHELTER PROVIDER, CALLS ON LIKELY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS TO STOP FUNDING UNSCRUPULOUS OPERATORS VOCAL-NY Members Can Attest CORE Corruption is Not Unique or Uncommon, Citing Inedible Food, Crumbling Buildings, and Overdose Deaths NEW YORK — In response to

VOCAL-NY Responds to NYT Investigation of Shelter Provider, Calls on Likely Mayor Eric Adams to Stop Funding Unscrupulous Operators Read More »

City Limits: Mayor de Blasio Must Act Now to Make ‘Renewable Rikers’ Part of His Legacy

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‘This month, the mayor announced he will be reopening one of the closed jails on Rikers to accommodate the rising jail population driven by unchecked fear mongering from his police commissioner. This is the wrong move, especially under the horrific conditions in which people are currently being held.’

City Limits: Mayor de Blasio Must Act Now to Make ‘Renewable Rikers’ Part of His Legacy Read More »

VOCAL-NY Responds to Eric Adams’ Supportive Housing Plan

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, September 21, 2021 CONTACT Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO ERIC ADAMS’ SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PLAN Adams’ Has Committed to Convert Distressed Hotels Into Approximately 25,000 Supportive Housing Units NEW YORK — In response to the announcement of Eric Adams’ Housing Plan, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to Milton Perez, a

VOCAL-NY Responds to Eric Adams’ Supportive Housing Plan Read More »

City Limits: Decade-Long Fight to Decriminalize Syringe Possession in NY Awaits New Gov’s Signature

In the News / By

“We were finally able to get it through the Assembly and the Senate,” said Biz Berthy, drug policy campaign coordinator for the advocacy group Vocal-NY, who said the state syringe possession law demonstrates the “massive inconsistencies between the penal code and the health code.” Prior versions of the bill were introduced during each legislative session dating back to 2015, but never managed to pass.

City Limits: Decade-Long Fight to Decriminalize Syringe Possession in NY Awaits New Gov’s Signature Read More »

Democrat & Chronicle: ‘Housing is a human right!’ Roc City-Wide Tenant Union, supporters rally for local reforms

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Breyana Clark of Vocal-NY spoke in support of the union and of the bill.

“Prioritizing the Black mother’s experience is what will begin to lift us out of this housing crises,” she said. “We prioritize the Black mother’s experience by passing the good cause protection. Our current housing practices breed nothing but gentrification and pushes our people further into poverty.”

Democrat & Chronicle: ‘Housing is a human right!’ Roc City-Wide Tenant Union, supporters rally for local reforms Read More »

Capitol PressRoom: Harm reduction activists provide Hochul with drug policy roadmap

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After years of being unsatisfied by the policy choices and priorities of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, VOCAL-NY is hopeful that Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration will emphasize data-backed decisions when it comes to New York’s drug policies, including embracing harm reduction strategies.

Capitol PressRoom: Harm reduction activists provide Hochul with drug policy roadmap Read More »

On International Overdose Awareness Day, Lawmakers and Community Members Demand Action on New York’s Preventable Overdose Crisis

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, August 31, 2021 CONTACT Jasmine Budnella, jasmine@vocal-ny.org, 720480-5262 Mariah McGough, Mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203-470-9979 ON INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY, LAWMAKERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS DEMAND ACTION ON NEW YORK’S PREVENTABLE OVERDOSE CRISIS New Yorkers Joined People Across the Globe Today to Honor Those Lost to Preventable Overdose By Demanding Action  See VOCAL-NY’s Drug Policy

On International Overdose Awareness Day, Lawmakers and Community Members Demand Action on New York’s Preventable Overdose Crisis Read More »

Filter: On International Overdose Awareness Day, New Yorkers’ Demands Are Clear

In the News / By

“I remember when we were losing someone every three hours to overdose. Then it was five. Then it was three. Now we’re losing someone every hour and 48 minutes,” Marilyn Reyes, a community leader with VOCAL-NY User’s Union and co-director of Peer Network of New York, told Filter. “It’s horrifying.”

Now, newly inaugurated Governor Kathy Hochul has the opportunity to immediately begin addressing the harms perpetuated by Cuomo’s administration, and to usher in a new era of healing for marginalized New Yorkers.

Filter: On International Overdose Awareness Day, New Yorkers’ Demands Are Clear Read More »

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