New York State

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

In the News / By

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

Press Statements / By

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

Press Statements / By

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 »

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

Press Statements / By

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

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

VOCAL-NY Responds To One-House Budget Proposals

Press Statements / By

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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Lohud: Groups want $1B for community violence programs, other services to combat gun violence

In the News / By

“It’s imperative that we get these funds to groups that are currently operating successfully right now, but we also need to ensure that there is a process for the development and funding of new programs because many cities and other areas have no programming at all for either community-based gun violence intervention or survivor services,”

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Associated Press: New York’s Pandemic-Era Eviction Moratorium Expires

In the News / By

Advocates and landlords don’t expect a flood of evictions right away, as the state’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program still provides some eviction protection.

Still, Joe Loonam, housing campaigns coordinator for advocacy group VOCAL-NY, warned that the state is setting the ground for a homelessness crisis over the next year.

Associated Press: New York’s Pandemic-Era Eviction Moratorium Expires Read More »

Kim Smith

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Kim Smith (She/Her) holds an MPA from SUNY Brockport University and is the Political Director of VOCAL-NY.  As the Political Director Kim is primarily responsible for managing the activities of the VOCAL Action Fund, which includes but is not limited to endorsement processes, political education and electoral field activities.  As a resident of Rochester, Kim

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