Lezandre Kahadu was at the protest and says her son died in jail and she’s still seeking justice. She says Hochul’s planned pushback would be a “smack in her face.” “She’s putting more parents in the boat I’m in,” Kahadu says. “You keep putting these people in a place where people are dying.” Some groups […]
news 12 the bronx: former inmates and lawmakers hold bail reform rally: Read More »
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 Celebrates Progressive Victory in Chicago Mayoral Run-Off Read More »
To Jasmine Budnella, director of drug policy at VOCAL-NY, the rhetoric around breaking up supply chains is a repackaging of the same policies that have historically targeted drug users. “The way that Governor Hochul was framing it was like we would go after the Pablo Escobars of the world. But in reality, we know who
NEW YORK FOCUS: HOCHUL QUIETLY BETS ON POLICE TO BATTLE FENTANYL: Read More »
VOCAL-NY community leader Roger Clark says the Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act would help him clear his name. “If it becomes law today, it will simply open up the door for me to get back into court [to] have a hearing, get discovery and—after my lawyers look through everything—have a long conversation about what’s the best
Contact: Mitch Schwartz, (914) 330-1026 State Assembly Passes the Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act Major step toward giving wrongfully-convicted New Yorkers the chance to prove their innocence ALBANY–The New York State Assembly passed the Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act (S. 215 / A. 2878) yesterday, a major step toward giving wrongfully-convicted New Yorkers a chance to clear
State Assembly Passes the Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act Read More »
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY APPLAUDS NYS SENATE AND ASSEMBLY FOR PRIORITIZING HOUSING AND OVERDOSE PREVENTION IN BUDGET PROPOSALS After Weeks of Advocacy in Albany, State Lawmakers Heard Concerns and Addressed Them in Their One-House Budget Proposals NEW YORK — Today, in response to the release of the Senate and Assembly One-House Budgets, VOCAL-NY released the following statement,
“I was bullied into pleading guilty to something that I didn’t do and that conviction has had a negative impact on my life,” Eileen Maher, a community leader at VOCAL-NY, said in a statement. “It’s not right that now I have no recourse to vacate the conviction even if I can now prove that I
GOTHAMIST: NY lawmakers reinvigorate push to upend wrongful convictions: Read More »
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO MAYOR ADAMS’ STATE OF THE CITY See VOCAL-NY’s 2023 Policy Platform for Mayor Adams and the New York City Council NEW YORK — Today, in response to Mayor Adams second annual State of the City, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to Jawanza Williams, VOCAL-NY Director of Organizing: “Today we heard little about
VOCAL-NY Responds to Mayor Adams’ State of the City Read More »
People living in New York City deserve to caring & compassionate local government. VOCAL-NY released the following platform of demands for the New York City Council to adopt and make a down payment toward a Caring & Compassionate New Deal for New York City during budget negotiations for the 2023/24.
When New York changed its laws around where incarcerated people were counted, the next step was to quantify which areas sent the most people to prisons, according to VOCAL-NY’s civil rights campaign director, Nick Encalada-Malinowski. He sees the numbers of incarcerated people coming from upstate communities as a reflection of politics. As New York City
