drug policy

2025 State Legislative Platform

Effective Solutions to Immediately Address the Ongoing Humanitarian and Political Crises of Homelessness, Substance Use, and Public Safety The intersecting issues of homelessness, the overdose crisis, and unmet mental health needs continue to impact an ever-growing number of New Yorkers, causing a humanitarian crisis across New York State. Our lawmakers continue to lean on rhetoric […]

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In Response to Chaos at the Top of Adams Administration, VOCAL-NY Calls for Mayor to Resign

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org  IN RESPONSE TO CHAOS AT THE TOP OF ADAMS ADMINISTRATION, VOCAL-NY CALLS FOR MAYOR TO RESIGN  NEW YORK — Following the rapidly decreasing capacity of the City government to meet the needs of the City’s most vulnerable residents due to ongoing chaos at City Hall and the mass exodus of administration leaders, VOCAL-NY

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NEW ANNUAL REPORT: VOCAL-NY Highlights 2023 Developments and Achievements in Fight to End the AIDS Epidemic, War On Drugs, Mass Incarceration, and Homelessness

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org NEW ANNUAL REPORT: VOCAL-NY HIGHLIGHTS 2023 DEVELOPMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN FIGHT TO END THE AIDS EPIDEMIC, THE WAR ON DRUGS, MASS INCARCERATION, AND HOMELESSNESS NEW YORK — VOCAL-NY announces the release of its 2023 Annual Report showcasing the tireless work of members, leaders, staff, and partners in building power and a world with justice, compassion,

NEW ANNUAL REPORT: VOCAL-NY Highlights 2023 Developments and Achievements in Fight to End the AIDS Epidemic, War On Drugs, Mass Incarceration, and Homelessness Read More »

VOCAL-NY Applauds Senate Health Committee Passing Drug Checking Services Legislation

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org  VOCAL-NY APPLAUDS SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE PASSING DRUG CHECKING SERVICES LEGISLATION ALBANY, N.Y. — Today, the Senate Health Committee passed Senator Fernandez’s drug checking services bill (S4880). In response, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to Hiawatha Collins, leader with the Users Union and Board Member at VOCAL-NY: “Unlike the governor –

VOCAL-NY Applauds Senate Health Committee Passing Drug Checking Services Legislation Read More »

VOCAL-NY Responds to One House Budgets; Call on Assembly to Follow Senate’s Lead and Center Marginalized New Yorkers

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO ONE HOUSE BUDGETS; CALL ON ASSEMBLY TO FOLLOW SENATE’S LEAD AND CENTER MARGINALIZED NEW YORKERS NEW YORK — Today, in response to the release of one-house budgets by the New York State Senate and Assembly, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to Reginald Thomas Brown, VOCAL-NY Leader and

VOCAL-NY Responds to One House Budgets; Call on Assembly to Follow Senate’s Lead and Center Marginalized New Yorkers Read More »

VOCAL-NY Denounces Gov. Hochul’s 2024 Legislative Approach Laid Out in the Most Carceral State of the State in Recent Years

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY DENOUNCES GOV. HOCHUL’S 2024 LEGISLATIVE APPROACH LAID OUT IN THE MOST CARCERAL STATE OF THE STATE IN RECENT YEARS New York Can Build Safe and Thriving Communities by Solving Ongoing Crises of Homelessness, Overdose, and Criminalization NEW YORK — Today, in response to Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State and Briefing Book, VOCAL-NY released the

VOCAL-NY Denounces Gov. Hochul’s 2024 Legislative Approach Laid Out in the Most Carceral State of the State in Recent Years Read More »

Over 110 Organizations Send Letter to Gov. Hochul Calling for Expansion of Overdose Prevention Centers and Funding With Opioid Settlement Dollars

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org OVER 110 ORGANIZATIONS SEND LETTER TO GOV. HOCHUL CALLING FOR EXPANSION OF OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS AND FUNDING WITH OPIOID SETTLEMENT DOLLARS See Letter and Signees Here; Overdose Prevention Centers Have Saved More Than 1,300 Lives Since Opening in 2021 NEW YORK —  Today, as covered in Politico’s New York Playbook, over

Over 110 Organizations Send Letter to Gov. Hochul Calling for Expansion of Overdose Prevention Centers and Funding With Opioid Settlement Dollars Read More »

Letter to Governor Hochul: EXPAND OF OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS AND FUND Them WITH OPIOID SETTLEMENT DOLLARS

The 111 undersigned organizations write to express our strong disappointment with your letter to the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board rejecting their recommendation to use funds to support an Overdose Prevention Center (OPC) demonstration project.  See Full Letter Here

Letter to Governor Hochul: EXPAND OF OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS AND FUND Them WITH OPIOID SETTLEMENT DOLLARS Read More »

Looking Ahead to 2024: Solving Ongoing Crises of Homelessness, Overdose and Criminalization by Building Safe and Thriving Communities

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203 470 9979 LOOKING AHEAD TO 2024: SOLVING ONGOING CRISES OF HOMELESSNESS, OVERDOSE AND CRIMINALIZATION BY BUILDING SAFE AND THRIVING COMMUNITIES Mayor Adams and Gov. Hochul Refuse to Invest in New York, New Report Shows it’s Forcing the Working Class to Flee See VOCAL-NY’s 2024 Legislative Platform Online Here NEW YORK

Looking Ahead to 2024: Solving Ongoing Crises of Homelessness, Overdose and Criminalization by Building Safe and Thriving Communities Read More »

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