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

 

 

 

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, April 6 @ 6PM : VOCAL-Albany Post-Budget Organizing Meeting. Where : 69 State St. Albany or on ZOOM RSVP : Click here to join us! Contact : Luke 917-702-8781 Luke@vocal-ny.org     Thursday, April 7 @10:30AM : Users Union statewide day of action ! We will be rallying with community leaders and allies for press conferences in Rochester, Albany and in NYC— to demand the NYS legislature pass two life saving pieces of legislation : the Safer Consumption Services Act and Buprenorphine Decriminalization.   RSVP for a Press Conference Near you : CLICK HERE! Contact : Biz (413.406.8838 | biz@vocal-ny.org)     Thursday, April 7 @ 5PM : PLU General Membership Meeting : Join us to discuss statewide updates on Rest of State AIDS housing, and continue identifying some of the issues within HASA  RSVP : CLICK HERE! Contact : Ruwi, ruwi@vocal-ny.org

Week in Review

In the last full week of the New York State budget session, VOCAL-NY was all over the Capitol, demanding budget funding to support low-income people and marginalized people across the state. VOCAL-NY leaders hosted and attended a number of press conferences calling for bail reform laws to remain intact, demanding funding for the Housing Access Voucher Program, and funding forstatewide HIV/AIDS housing and support. But by Thursday, it became clear that state lawmakers would not make the April 1 deadline, and negotiations would continue into Monday. Pressure is mounting, and VOCAL-NY will continue to push for budget funding for the needs of New Yorkers – not a new stadium funded by taxpayer dollars. And in New York City, homeless New Yorkers gathered in front of City Hall to call on Mayor Eric Adams to #StopTheSweeps. Allies from Neighbors Together, Housing Works, Picture The Homeless, and other groups condemned the Mayor’s plan that simply destroys the shelters of people who are homeless without providing them any permanent housing as an alternative. Encampment busting will not improve quality of life for those living on the streets, and has failed in the previous De Blasio administration. Until the Mayor makes investment in permanent housing, the crisis for homeless New Yorkers will continue.

What We're Reading

Times Union : “'It's hard to argue with lives saved.' As overdoses soar, calls for prevention centers grow” News12 : “Advocates denounce homeless encampment removals across the city” Times Union : “Another Voice: Safer consumption act will promote harm reduction” The Indypendent : “Housing Activists Raise a Ruckus in Albany as State Budget Talks Race to a Finish” News10 : “Support for current Bail Reform law as budget draws near”

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. NYC Political Coordinator Finance Manager Hepatitis C Peer Health Navigator (Part Time) Housing Campaigns Director Chief of Staff

Consider Donating Here

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