CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org 

VOCAL-NY CELEBRATES PROGRESSIVE VICTORY IN CHICAGO MAYORAL RUN-OFF

New York State Leadership is on Notice: Voters Want Progress, and We Won’t Settle for the Status Quo or Punitive Crime Policies of Decades Past

NEW YORK — In response to Progressive Brandon Johnson being elected as Chicago’s next mayor, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to VOCAL-NY Political Director, Kim Smith: 

“As newly elected Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson captured in his victory speech, ‘The People of Chicago put their trust in the movement and came out victorious.’ But here in New York, state and local leaders are going in the opposite direction.

Gov. Kathy Hochul is attempting to roll back bail reforms and return our state to Rockefeller-era drug laws, while intentionally being silent regarding the violent impact her policies, practices and ideology have on our Black, Brown and low income communities. And Mayor Adams’ push for a city budget that cuts services and continues to bloat the NYPD’s budget isn’t any better. 

Our elected leaders should fight to end homelessness, the overdose crisis, mass incarceration, and meet the material needs of all New Yorkers, not just donors. If the Chicago run-off is proof of anything, it’s that voters won’t stand for policies that undo the progress we’ve made, and are demanding even more investments to boost public safety — not punitive policies.  

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