Mariah McGough

Formerly-Incarcerated New Yorkers Implore State Leadership to Uphold Bail Reform in Budget

Press Statements / By

CONTACT: Nick Encalada-Malinowski, nick@vocal-ny.org, 347-259-4835  FORMERLY-INCARCERATED NEW YORKERS IMPLORE STATE LEADERSHIP TO UPHOLD BAIL NEW YORK — VOCAL-NY’s Civil Rights Union, composed of and led by formerly incarcerated people, their loved ones, and other people impacted by criminalization, released the following statement in response to news that the legislature will discuss bail reform tonight. The following statement is attributable to […]

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CBS NY: New York lawmakers struggle with bail reform as part of budget negotiations

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Bail reform advocates made their message loud and clear as Democratic lawmakers gathered for an update on budget negotiations behind closed doors on Monday, days past the deadline. “We are here to ask lawmakers to make a conscious decision not to trade Black and Brown lives for political theater,” said John McFarlane of Vocal NY.

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Safer Consumption Services Act: 230 Organizations, Service Providers, Families Impacted by the Overdose Crisis, and People Directly Impacted Urge Legislature to Pass Life-Saving Legislation

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CONTACTJasmine Budnella, Jasmine@vocal-ny.org, 720-480-5262 Mariah McGough, Mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203-470-9979 SAFER CONSUMPTION SERVICES ACT: 230 ORGANIZATIONS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THE OVERDOSE CRISIS, AND PEOPLE DIRECTLY IMPACTED URGE LEGISLATURE TO PASS LIFE-SAVING LEGISLATION   In Letter, First Covered in Times Union and Available Here, Groups Warn Lack of Action Will Result in Years of Continued Record-Breaking Preventable Overdose Deaths The Nation’s First Overdose Prevention Centers

Safer Consumption Services Act: 230 Organizations, Service Providers, Families Impacted by the Overdose Crisis, and People Directly Impacted Urge Legislature to Pass Life-Saving Legislation Read More »

Times Union: ‘It’s hard to argue with lives saved.’ As overdoses soar, calls for prevention centers grow

In the News / By

“We’re watching the legacy of Cuomo’s 10 years of underfunding, cutting funding, neglecting legislation, rejecting evidence-based solutions play out in real-time — on top of an unstable drug supply, on top of the legacy of 50 years of the drug war,” said Jasmine Budnella, director of drug policy for VOCAL-NY, a group that advocates for

Times Union: ‘It’s hard to argue with lives saved.’ As overdoses soar, calls for prevention centers grow Read More »

VOCAL-NY Applauds the BPHA Caucus’ Public Safety Plan, Calls for Investments in Harm Reduction to Keep Communities Safe

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CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY APPLAUDS THE BPHA CAUCUS’ PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN, CALLS FOR INVESTMENTS IN HARM REDUCTION TO KEEP COMMUNITIES SAFE The 10-Point Plan, a Rebuttal to Gov. Hochul’s Attempts to Rollback Reforms, Highlights Need for Care, Housing, and Decarceration NEW YORK — In response to the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative

VOCAL-NY Applauds the BPHA Caucus’ Public Safety Plan, Calls for Investments in Harm Reduction to Keep Communities Safe Read More »

City & State: NYC progressives are reclaiming “defund,” after it was used against themCity & State:

In the News / By

Two days later, organizers held the same sign again at a people’s public safety rally in City Hall Park, where VOCAL-NY organizing director Jawanza James Williams explained that it was just another way of reclaiming the term “defund.” Read More

City & State: NYC progressives are reclaiming “defund,” after it was used against themCity & State: Read More »

VOCAL-NY Slams Gov. Hochul for Rushing Through Bail Rollbacks in Last Days of Budget Session

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CONTACT Nick Encalada-Malinowski, nick@vocal-ny.org, 347-259-4835 Mariah McGough, Mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203 470 9979 VOCAL-NY SLAMS GOV. HOCHUL FOR RUSHING THROUGH BAIL ROLLBACKS IN LAST DAYS OF BUDGET SESSION NEW YORK — In response to Governor Hochul’s 10-point plan to increase mass incarceration in New York State, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to VOCAL-NY Civil Rights Union Leader Roger Clark: “It’s wrong for

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VOCAL-NY Responds To One-House Budget Proposals

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CONTACT Mariah McGough, Mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203 470 9979 VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO ONE-HOUSE BUDGET PROPOSALS NEW YORK — In response to the New York Senate and Assembly releasing their one-house budget proposals over the weekend, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to Kim Smith, VOCAL-NY Political Director: “The Senate and Assembly’s one-house budget proposals make progress on a down payment

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VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO BRAZEN VIOLENCE AGAINST TWO HOMELESS NEW YORKERS IN NYC

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CONTACT Celina Trowell, Celina@vocal-ny.org, 347-309-6621 VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO BRAZEN VIOLENCE AGAINST TWO HOMELESS NEW YORKERS IN NYC NEW YORK — In response to the reports of deadly attacks on homeless New Yorkers, VOCAL-NY released the following statement attributable to Celina Trowell, Homelessness Union Organizer: “To be clear, this tragedy is the direct result of a growing reckless and hateful anti-homeless

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Lawmakers and Advocates Demand Fair And Equal Statewide Access to Lifesaving Housing Assistance for People With HIV Experiencing Homelessness or Housing Instability

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CONTACT Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203 470 9979 LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES DEMAND FAIR AND EQUAL STATEWIDE ACCESS TO LIFESAVING HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR HOUSING INSTABILITY  ALBANY, N.Y. — Today, people with HIV (PWH) and other advocates were joined by state lawmakers on the Million Dollar Staircase at the Capitol to demand FY23 NYS

Lawmakers and Advocates Demand Fair And Equal Statewide Access to Lifesaving Housing Assistance for People With HIV Experiencing Homelessness or Housing Instability Read More »

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