Mariah McGough

News 10: Local DA says bail reform issues persist, while advocates caution against rollbacks

In the News / By

Some leaders in law enforcement and politics remain concerned for public safety and hope for changes to New York’s bail reform laws next session. Advocates for bail reform fear rollbacks will halt their intended progress.

D’Juan Collins, a Manhattan resident and member of VOCAL-NY, advocates for criminal justice reforms ever since being charged with drug possession in 2007, before the state’s new bail laws existed.

News 10: Local DA says bail reform issues persist, while advocates caution against rollbacks Read More »

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

Press Statements / By

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

Press Statements / By

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

Press Statements / By

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

In the News / By

‘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

Press Statements / By

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

In the News / By

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 »

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