Press Statements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, November 23, 2021 CONTACT Joe Loonam, Joseph@vocal-ny.org, 347-409-4650 VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO THE RESIGNATION OF STEVE BANKS, NYC SOCIAL SERVICES COMMISSIONER NEW YORK — In response to the resignation of Steve Banks, VOCAL-NY released the following statement attributable to Joe Loonam, Housing Campaigns Coordinator: “Steve Banks has shaped the policies around homelessness […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, November 23, 2021 CONTACT Mariah McGough, Mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY SLAMS NY PAROLE OFFICERS FOR INTIMIDATION AND ESCALATION AT RALLY IN ROCHESTER ROCHESTER, N.Y. — On Monday parole officers with Public Employees Federation Division 236 physically assaulted an organizer with VOCAL-NY after being challenged for supporting mass incarceration and specifically the repeal of

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, October 7, 2021 CONTACT Jasmine Budnella, Jasmine@vocal-ny.org Mariah McGough, Mariah@vocal-ny.org VICTORY FOR OVERDOSE PREVENTION: AFTER YEARS OF FIGHTING, VOCAL-NY CELEBRATES GOV. HOCHUL SIGNING BILLS TO EXPAND ACCESS OF LIFESAVING TREATMENT TO JAILS & PRISONS AND DECRIMINALIZE SYRINGES Signings are Step Towards Reversing the Negligence of the Cuomo Administration on the Overdose

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, October 5, 2021 CONTACT Jasmine Budnella, jasmine@vocal-ny.org Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY APPLAUDS NEW FUNDING FOR HARM REDUCTION SERVICES FROM OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND Attorney General Letitia James’ Held a Press Conference Today in Albany as a Part of her HealNY Tour ALBANY, N.Y. — Today, VOCAL-NY leaders stood alongside Attorney General Letitia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, October 5th, 2021 CONTACT Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO NYT INVESTIGATION OF SHELTER PROVIDER, CALLS ON LIKELY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS TO STOP FUNDING UNSCRUPULOUS OPERATORS VOCAL-NY Members Can Attest CORE Corruption is Not Unique or Uncommon, Citing Inedible Food, Crumbling Buildings, and Overdose Deaths NEW YORK — In response to

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, September 21, 2021 CONTACT Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO ERIC ADAMS’ SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PLAN Adams’ Has Committed to Convert Distressed Hotels Into Approximately 25,000 Supportive Housing Units NEW YORK — In response to the announcement of Eric Adams’ Housing Plan, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to Milton Perez, a

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, August 31, 2021 CONTACT Jasmine Budnella, jasmine@vocal-ny.org, 720480-5262 Mariah McGough, Mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203-470-9979 ON INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY, LAWMAKERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS DEMAND ACTION ON NEW YORK’S PREVENTABLE OVERDOSE CRISIS New Yorkers Joined People Across the Globe Today to Honor Those Lost to Preventable Overdose By Demanding Action  See VOCAL-NY’s Drug Policy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, August 25, 2021 CONTACT Jasmine Budnella, jasmine@vocal-ny.org, 720-480-5262 Mariah McGough, Mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203-470-9979 THERE IS NO TIME LEFT: GOVERNOR HOCHUL MUST LEAD ON ENDING THE OVERDOSE CRISIS IN NEW YORK IN FIRST 45 DAYS VOCAL-NY is Releasing a Drug Policy Roadmap for Governor Hochul’s 45 Days in Office Over 31,000 New Yorkers

Following Governor Cuomo’s resignation, Lt. Governor Hochul has an urgent, historic opportunity to save lives from the worsening overdose crisis and reverse the devastation caused by her predecessor. After years of grassroots organizing, Hochul will have a package of legislation available for her to sign that would all go towards preventing overdoses: S1795/A533 – Medication-Assisted

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 22, 2021 CONTACT Luke Grandis, Luke@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY Applauds Albany Common Council’s Passage of “Good Cause’ Eviction Bill Under Good Cause Measure Landlords are Prohibited From Evicting Tenants Based on Discriminatory Reasons ALBANY, N.Y. — The Albany chapter of VOCAL-NY applauds the Albany Common Council for passing legislation to require landlords have