FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 13, 2021

Contact:

Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org

VOCAL-NY CALLS ON MAYORAL CANDIDATES TO COMMIT TO ‘CARING & COMPASSIONATE NEW DEAL FOR NYC’ IN TONIGHT’S DEBATE

NEW YORK — In advance of tonight’s Democratic mayoral debate, VOCAL-NY, a statewide grassroots organization fighting to end homelessness, the War on Drugs, mass incarceration, and AIDS, called on the candidates to commit to implementing a “Caring & Compassionate New Deal for NYC.”

The framework imagines a city where poverty and public health concerns are not met by ineffective and harmful policing and incarceration, and demands investment in the solutions New Yorkers actually need — housing, social services, and care.

“Homeless New Yorkers, people struggling with substance use and mental health needs, and people impacted by policing and incarceration will be watching tonight. We don’t need another leader that pays lip service, and yet does nothing to meet the real challenges we face.” said Marilyn Reyes, Board Member of VOCAL-NY. “I want to see our next mayor be the first mayor to make real change and help our communities thrive by ending homelessness, preventing overdoses, and helping those who have been historically underserved.”

In March, VOCAL-NY hosted New York City mayoral candidates Eric Adams, Shaun Donovan, Kathryn Garcia, Ray McGuire, Dianne Morales, Scott Stringer, Maya Wiley, and Andrew Yang to discuss critical questions on homelessness, overdose, drug policy, and ending New York City’s use of police and jails to solve social problems at a forum moderated by social justice leaders from VOCAL-NY. The full forum can be viewed here and their written answers can be found here.