U.S (VOCAL NEW-YORK) : VOCAL-NY Guide to Your Week !

 

 

 

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, January 26 @ 11:30AM : Court Watch for VOCAL-NY Members : D'Juan Collins is a member of VOCAL-NY and has a hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday. He is respectfully requesting court watchers because this is a case that has been fabricated against him since 2019 by the 34th Precinct and the outgoing Manhattan DA Cy Vance, Jr. We will be meeting outside the courthouse at 11:30 am.   Where : Manhattan Criminal Court - 100 Centre Street. RSVP : Click here to join us! Contact : Luis, luis@vocal-ny.org, 347-425-3068     Wednesday, January 26 @ 6PM : VOCAL-NY Southern NY Membership Assembly : Albany, Hudson Valley, & Westchester members, leaders, and comrades are invited to join !   Where : 69 State St. Albany & ZOOM RSVP : Click here to join us! Contact : Luke 917-702-8781 Luke@vocal-ny.org     Thursday, January 27 @ 9AM : Court Watch for  VOCAL-NY Members : Kmea Jones is one of our leaders and has a hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday. Kmea has been fighting police abuse and the family court system for years. She's been brave and committed in the face of possible intimidation and retaliation. She is requesting the presence and support from the VOCAL-NY family for her day in court.   Where : Manhattan Criminal Court - 100 Centre Street. RSVP : Click here to join us! Contact : Luis, luis@vocal-ny.org, 347-425-3068     Thursday, January 27 @ 5PM : Civil Rights Union Town Hall :  Join us this Thursday as we share updates from our efforts to end mass incarceration. Because of how infectious the new Omicron variant is, our Town Hall will be virtual this month.   RSVP : Click here to join us! Contact : Luis, luis@vocal-ny.org, 347-425-3068

Speak Up About the Future of Our City

How should the new mayor and his team approach issues like schools, streets, safety ? How should they approach challenges like COVID-19 and climate change ? Fill out the NYC Speaks survey by January 28th to make your voice heard. NYC Speaks is a six month public engagement effort engaging New Yorkers to help inform the priorities and policies of our new mayor, Eric Adams.  Take the survey!

Week in Review

VOCAL-NY launched it’s 2022-2023 budget and legislative platforms on Wednesday, laying out demands and policy priorities to create a Caring and Compassionate Infrastructure for New York. The platforms were unveiled at ahybrid press conference and include policies from each of VOCAL-NY’s four unions that individually work on homelessness, drug policy, civil rights, and HIV/AIDS. Our members and leaders in chapters in Albany, Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, and Syracuse plan to urge lawmakers to advance these policies this session, and give marginalized New Yorkers the support they deserve.   And on Thursday, it was reported that Mayor Eric Adams was consideringexcluding the NYPD from a 3% budget cut to city-wide agencies. This would go against many of the promises he made while campaigning, like reducing police presence across the city and providing more wrap-around services for those in crisis. In response, VOCAL-NY called for Mayor Adams to put substance over swagger and follow through on the promises we know the majority of New Yorkers support. Read our full statement here.

#VOCALVaccinated Updates

In December, VOCAL-NY joined the NY Vaccine Literacy Campaign and The Public Good Projects in hosting the townhall "How to Talk to Loved Ones About Getting Vaccinated." The virtual discussion took place just a the Omicron variant began spreading across the state of New York, a reminder of how important it is to help our loved ones make informed choices about protecting themselves with the vaccine.  The discussion featured panelists from different backgrounds, including : Joe Smyser, PhD, MSPH, CEO, The Public Good Projects Hiawatha Collins, Board Member, VOCAL-NY Yin Ting Fung, MA, Excluded Workers Fund Data & Intake Coordinator, Union Settlement Julian L. Watkins, MD, Health Equity Advisor, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Watch the recording of the full discussion here to learn different ways to have a conversation with loved ones about the vaccine !

What We're Reading

Bloomberg : “NYPD Could Avoid Citywide Budget Cuts Imposed by NYC Mayor” New York Times : “Democrats Fail to Change Filibuster Rules as Republicans Block Action on Voting Rights” City & State : “A budget fight over Clean Slate begins”

We're Hiring ! VOCAL-NY has open positions for dynamic individuals who are committed to building power among low-income people directly impacted by HIV/AIDS, the drug war, mass incarceration, and homelessness. Drug Policy Campaign Coordinator Community Organizer (part-time) GROW (Organizing Canvass) Field Captain

Consider Donating Here

VOCAL-NY PO Box 170374 Brooklyn, NY 11217-1908 info@vocal-ny.org | 718-802-9540