Press Statements

Fight Is On for Right to Shelter: VOCAL-NY Calls for Courts to Reject Mayor Adams Legal Challenge

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org  FIGHT IS ON FOR RIGHT TO SHELTER: VOCAL-NY CALLS FOR COURTS TO REJECT MAYOR ADAMS LEGAL CHALLENGE  NEW YORK — Following the release of the Adams Administration’s abhorrent legal challenge to New York City’s Right to Shelter mandate, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to Adolfo Abreu, VOCAL-NY’s Housing Campaigns Director: […]

Fight Is On for Right to Shelter: VOCAL-NY Calls for Courts to Reject Mayor Adams Legal Challenge Read More »

MAYOR ADAMS MUST ACT: AMIDST THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AT RIKERS ISLAND, LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES DEMAND DECARCERATION

CONTACT: Jada Shannon, jada@vocal-ny.org At least 42 people have died under Department of Correction (DOC) custody since 2021, with more than half of these deaths occurring under Mayor Adams’ administration Advocates present list of demands calling for Mayor Adams to make decarceration the focus of city policy to make good on his promise to follow

MAYOR ADAMS MUST ACT: AMIDST THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AT RIKERS ISLAND, LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES DEMAND DECARCERATION Read More »

NEW YORK PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS JOIN NATIONAL EFFORT TO REDUCE OVERDOSE CRISIS WITH OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS

VOCAL-NY calls on New York State and Governor Hochul to prioritize funding for Harm Reduction programs and an End to the War on Drugs NEW YORK – Today, amidst an overdose crisis that claimed a predicted 6,677 lives in New York State in 2022, VOCAL-NY has joined a national coalition of more than 130 organizations comprised of public health

NEW YORK PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS JOIN NATIONAL EFFORT TO REDUCE OVERDOSE CRISIS WITH OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS Read More »

RIKERS RECEIVERSHIP MUST DECARCERATE: VOCAL-NY RELEASES DEMANDS TO FOCUS RECEIVERSHIP ON CLOSING RIKERS

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org Demands Released Ahead of the Thursday’s Federal Monitor Hearing on Rikers Receivership NEW YORK — As a federal judge considers shifting management responsibility of Rikers Island to a receiver, VOCAL-NY released a fact sheet with public education and demands for receivership that moves New York City closer to decarceration. “The mere existence of Rikers is a humanitarian violation,

RIKERS RECEIVERSHIP MUST DECARCERATE: VOCAL-NY RELEASES DEMANDS TO FOCUS RECEIVERSHIP ON CLOSING RIKERS Read More »

New York State Must Act: After NYC Overdose Prevention Centers Save 1,000 Lives, It’s Time To Authorize

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org NEW YORK STATE MUST ACT: AFTER NYC OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS SAVE MORE THAN 1,000 LIVES, IT’S TIME TO AUTHORIZE  See Coverage From City & State of OnPoint’s Life-Saving Work  NEW YORK — Today, a New York Times article was published that underscores the need for Overdose Prevention Centers (OPCs) to be

New York State Must Act: After NYC Overdose Prevention Centers Save 1,000 Lives, It’s Time To Authorize Read More »

HISTORIC VICTORY: CITY COUNCIL STANDS UP TO THE MAYOR AND OVERRIDES VETO OF CRITICAL REFORMS 

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203 470 9979; Jada Shannon, jada@vocal-ny.org  Advocates Praise Speaker Adams and the Rest of the NYC Council for Overriding the Mayor’s Veto of CityFHEPs Program Reforms NEW YORK — Today, the New York City Council has overridden the Mayor’s veto of crucial legislation that reforms the CityFHEPs rental assistance program. In

HISTORIC VICTORY: CITY COUNCIL STANDS UP TO THE MAYOR AND OVERRIDES VETO OF CRITICAL REFORMS  Read More »

Mayor Adams’ Budget Fails New Yorkers: VOCAL-NY Warns of Devastating Consequences to Come

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203 470 9979 MAYOR ADAMS’ BUDGET FAILS NEW YORKERS: VOCAL-NY WARNS OF DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES TO COME VOCAL-NY Joins Allies in Calling on Councilmembers to Vote NO on the Budget NEW YORK — Today, in response to a press conference announcing a handshake deal on Mayor Adams’ dangerous budget proposal, which includes a $2 billion

Mayor Adams’ Budget Fails New Yorkers: VOCAL-NY Warns of Devastating Consequences to Come Read More »

Costly Mistake: VOCAL-NY Condemns Mayor Adams Veto of CityFHEPS Bills

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203 470 9979 COSTLY MISTAKE: VOCAL-NY CONDEMNS MAYOR ADAMS VETO OF CITYFHEPS BILLS VOCAL-NY Supports NYC Council Campaign to Override Adams Absurd Veto NEW YORK — Today, in response to Mayor Adams veto of a package of bills that would improve and expand CityFHEPS, New York City’s rental assistance voucher program, VOCAL-NY released

Costly Mistake: VOCAL-NY Condemns Mayor Adams Veto of CityFHEPS Bills Read More »

Care Not Criminalization: VOCAL-NY Reaffirms Budget Demands Heading Into Final Week of NYC Budget Session

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org  CARE NOT CRIMINALIZATION: VOCAL-NY REAFFIRMS BUDGET DEMANDS HEADING INTO FINAL WEEK OF NYC BUDGET SESSION NEW YORK â€” As the New York City Council heads into the final week of the budget session, VOCAL-NY continues to call for a budget that invests in services and care, and divests from policing and incarceration.  “You

Care Not Criminalization: VOCAL-NY Reaffirms Budget Demands Heading Into Final Week of NYC Budget Session Read More »

Adams Falls Short: VOCAL-NY Urges the Mayor to Adopt a Full Reform Package on CityFHEPS, Not Cherry-Pick Piecemeal Solutions

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203 470 9979 ADAMS FALLS SHORT: VOCAL-NY URGES THE MAYOR TO ADOPT A FULL REFORM PACKAGE ON CITYFHEPS, NOT CHERRY-PICK PIECEMEAL SOLUTIONS The Mayor Adopted Just One of the Reforms Passed by the City Council in May, and is Considering Vetoing the Majority of the Reforms Package That Would House Tens of Thousands   NEW

Adams Falls Short: VOCAL-NY Urges the Mayor to Adopt a Full Reform Package on CityFHEPS, Not Cherry-Pick Piecemeal Solutions Read More »

Scroll to Top