This week, legislative leadership wrapped up negotiations on the 2021 budget, approving a $212 billion spending plan nearly a week after the April 1 deadline. While we helped allies secure $2.1 million to #fundexcludedworkers, leadership failed New Yorkers by gutting language to help people who are homeless and end drug overdoses. As Paulette Soltani, VOCAL-NY’s Political Director, told NYS Focus:
“It really symbolizes how little commitment leadership has to homeless New Yorkers… And I’m not talking about Governor Cuomo – I’m talking about the two leaders that are supposed to be leading our state, when we know exactly what’s going to come out of the governor’s office.”
On Monday, the NYLCU announced that it’s suing Jefferson County for refusing to allow access to methadone treatment to people in prison. Research shows that Medical Assisted Treatment (MAT) can restore dignity and save lives by ending forced, torturous withdrawals. VOCAL-NY leader and activist, Asia Betancourt,spoke with Filter Magazine about her own experience with withdrawal while incarcerated, saying:
“They left me not a bath, not a shower. Nothing. It’s being treated like an animal. It’s inhumane … We want people to get the treatment they need when they need it at their most vulnerable time.”
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