FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, August 14, 2025 CONTACT Jasmine Budnella, jasmine@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO MAYOR ADAMS PLAN TO ADDRESS THE OVERDOSE CRISIS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER NEW YORK, N.Y. — Today, Mayor Adams announced a multi-layered plan with dedicated funding to address substance use disorder. The plan includes multiple evidence-based public health policies to address […]
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO STATE OF THE STATE: AFFORDABILITY, COMPASSION AND SAFETY FOR WHOM? See VOCAL-NY’s 2025 State Legislative Platform Here NEW YORK — Today, Governor Hochul gave her 2025 State of the State address, laying out priorities like affordability and public safety. In response, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to
VOCAL-NY Responds to State of the State: Affordability, Compassion and Safety for Whom? Read More »
Effective Solutions to Immediately Address the Ongoing Humanitarian and Political Crises of Homelessness, Substance Use, and Public Safety The intersecting issues of homelessness, the overdose crisis, and unmet mental health needs continue to impact an ever-growing number of New Yorkers, causing a humanitarian crisis across New York State. Our lawmakers continue to lean on rhetoric
2025 State Legislative Platform Read More »
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org IN RESPONSE TO CHAOS AT THE TOP OF ADAMS ADMINISTRATION, VOCAL-NY CALLS FOR MAYOR TO RESIGN NEW YORK — Following the rapidly decreasing capacity of the City government to meet the needs of the City’s most vulnerable residents due to ongoing chaos at City Hall and the mass exodus of administration leaders, VOCAL-NY
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org NEW ANNUAL REPORT: VOCAL-NY HIGHLIGHTS 2023 DEVELOPMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN FIGHT TO END THE AIDS EPIDEMIC, THE WAR ON DRUGS, MASS INCARCERATION, AND HOMELESSNESS NEW YORK — VOCAL-NY announces the release of its 2023 Annual Report showcasing the tireless work of members, leaders, staff, and partners in building power and a world with justice, compassion,
With an unpredictable drug supply that underscores a surge in preventable overdoses, we urge lawmakers to pass the critical Drug Checking Services Bill (S4880/A7487) to ensure that New York remains proactive and rooted in education, public health, and community care to save lives in the midst of the state’s unrelenting overdose crisis. See Full Letter
Drug Checking Services Bill Sign-On Letter Read More »
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY APPLAUDS SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE PASSING DRUG CHECKING SERVICES LEGISLATION ALBANY, N.Y. — Today, the Senate Health Committee passed Senator Fernandez’s drug checking services bill (S4880). In response, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to Hiawatha Collins, leader with the Users Union and Board Member at VOCAL-NY: “Unlike the governor –
VOCAL-NY Applauds Senate Health Committee Passing Drug Checking Services Legislation Read More »
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO ONE HOUSE BUDGETS; CALL ON ASSEMBLY TO FOLLOW SENATE’S LEAD AND CENTER MARGINALIZED NEW YORKERS NEW YORK — Today, in response to the release of one-house budgets by the New York State Senate and Assembly, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to Reginald Thomas Brown, VOCAL-NY Leader and
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY DENOUNCES GOV. HOCHUL’S 2024 LEGISLATIVE APPROACH LAID OUT IN THE MOST CARCERAL STATE OF THE STATE IN RECENT YEARS New York Can Build Safe and Thriving Communities by Solving Ongoing Crises of Homelessness, Overdose, and Criminalization NEW YORK — Today, in response to Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State and Briefing Book, VOCAL-NY released the
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org OVER 110 ORGANIZATIONS SEND LETTER TO GOV. HOCHUL CALLING FOR EXPANSION OF OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS AND FUNDING WITH OPIOID SETTLEMENT DOLLARS See Letter and Signees Here; Overdose Prevention Centers Have Saved More Than 1,300 Lives Since Opening in 2021 NEW YORK — Today, as covered in Politico’s New York Playbook, over
