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

 

 

 

Upcoming Events.

Tuesday, March 29 @ 7AM : GET ON THE BUS ! Homeless New Yorkers and Tenants from across the state are marching on Albany to demand Housing Access Voucher Program and Good Cause Eviction are in the state budget this year.  Where : Buses leave from Union Square, 14th and 4th avenue @7am ! RSVP : Click Here. Contact : Joe (347-409-4650).    Tuesday, March 29 @ 10AM : Tent City Action at the Capitol : Join us in Albany as we demand the prioritization of permanent housing over mass incarceration policy. We will be setting up a mock tent city and showing legislatures what will happen if they do not push forth sustainable, people-centered housing policy. We will be bringing membership from statewide.   Where : LOB Hallway, Capitol, Albany Contact : Imani, imani@vocal-ny.org.

Save the Date !

Thursday, April 7 @ 11AM — Users Union Statewide Day of Action ! Join us for a press conference and rally to urge the NYS legislature pass two critical, life saving overdose prevention bills : Safer Consumption Services Act and Buprenorphine Decriminalization. There will be events in Rochester, Albany and NYC. RSVP for an event in your city by CLICKING HERE! Contact : Biz (413.406.8838 | biz@vocal-ny.org)

Week in Review.

This past week, VOCAL-NY leaders joined hundreds of activists from groups across the city and state at Governor Hochul’s Manhattan Office to demand the governor support communities – not increase mass incarceration. The action took place in the final days of the New York State budget session, after Hochul reversed her previous position and began pushing a 10-point plan to roll back reforms on bail, discovery and raise the age. To push back on the Governor’s plan, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander released a report showing that rises in crime cannot be blamed on bail reform. With the final budget due on Friday, April 1, advocates will only increase pressure on the Governor to leave reforms alone and focus on evidence-based solutions that will support communities.

#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.

Democrat & Chronicle : “Daniel Prude's brother: More work remains to aid the mentally ill” Gotham Gazette : “Saving Lives from New York City to Rochester and Beyond” Times Union : “A former police chief on the next steps in the drug crisis” New York Daily News : “The governor’s plan will create more Kalief Browders”

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 Drop-in Program Associate Chief of Staff

Consider Donating Here

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