Demanding Gov. Hochul Sign the Corrections Omnibus Bill into Law to Overhaul the State Commission of Correction!
Katal Team at a Press Conference in Albany Calling for an Overhaul of the State Commission of Correction, 3.25.25
At the end of this year’s legislative session, the New York State Senate and Assembly passed an omnibus bill, S.8415 (Salazar)/A.8871 (Dilan), which consists of ten prison oversight and accountability bills. Section H of the omnibus bill includes the legislation we’ve been working on to overhaul the State Commission of Correction (SCOC), the watchdog agency with investigative and oversight powers over every jail and prison in the state.
Now, we’re calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to immediately sign the Corrections Omnibus Bill into law to expand and diversify the State Commission of Correction to ensure that all jails and prisons comply with minimum standards and constitutional obligations – otherwise, the SCOC is obligated to shut them down to prevent unsafe conditions, injuries, and deaths.
Take Action Here to Email Gov. Hochul and Demand that She Immediately Sign this Bill into Law!
We currently have over 100 community, advocacy, legal, and faith-based organizations signed on from across the state demanding that Gov. Hochul sign this bill into law– click here to sign on your organization.
If you would like to join our organizing efforts calling on Gov. Hochul to sign the SCOC bill into law, please contact Yonah@katalcenter.org.
41st Death in DOC custody under Mayor Adams
Yesterday, Christian Collado, 51 years old, died while in custody of the New York City Department of Correction at the Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward. Mr. Collado had Stage 4 cancer and was being treated in the Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward. This is the eighth person to die in DOC custody this year; at least 41 people have died since Eric Adams became mayor in 2022.
In response to this death, we put out this statement from our Advocacy Director, Yonah Zeitz:
“We send our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Christian Collado. Mr. Collado is the eighth person to die in DOC custody this year, surpassing last year’s death toll, and at least 41 people have died since Eric Adams became mayor in 2022.
We know that under Mayor Adams violence has increased in city jails and dysfunction reigns supreme. Incarcerated people’s rights are consistently violated, and they are not getting the appropriate physical and mental health care. There is a state body – the State Commission of Correction (SCOC) – which is tasked with ensuring the safety and well-being of incarcerated people and should be conducting investigations and using its broad power to protect people in NYC jails. But for decades, the SCOC has failed to meet this responsibility. Currently, a bill is awaiting Gov. Hohcul’s signature that will increase correctional oversight by overhauling the SCOC. With lives at stake, the Governor must immediately sign this bill into law.”
If you’re interested in joining the fight to shut down Rikers, please contact Melanie at melanie@katalcenter.org.
Get a Shut Rikers T-Shirt!
Our black #ShutRikers t-shirts are now available online at Philadelphia Print Prints for $25. 100% of the net proceeds from this product will be donated to Katal. Purchase a shirt here!
Founded in 2010, Philadelphia Print Prints is Black, woman and queer owned and made up of a small team of creatives that use apparel to advocate and fundraise for marginalized communities. We are grateful to them for supporting Katal in this grassroots fundraising effort.
Thank you Love From the Sun!
We’d like to give a special thank you to Jada Lorraine and Love From The Sun for raising over $ 3000 to support our Shut Rikers campaign at their annual Juneteenth celebration of Black artistry, culture, and joy at Nowadays in Ridgewood, Queens. We’re grateful to all the participants, staff, volunteers, and artists who made this event happen. Go check them out here!
Weekly Pro-Democracy Phone Zaps
Join us on Wednesday, July 16th, for our weekly Pro-Democracy Phone Zaps! Every Wednesday from 12-12:45pm (EST), we’re gathering on Zoom to call our elected officials.
As President Trump cuts healthcare for tens of millions, gives the ultra-wealthy a $4.5 trillion dollar tax break, and makes the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the largest federal law enforcement agency in the country, people across the political spectrum keep fighting back. Across the country, people are standing up against the rising authoritarianism, the detrimental cuts, and the mass deportation agenda by the Trump Administration!
On Wednesday, we’ll continue this fight by calling our congressional representatives in D.C. to demand they take action to protect our communities. If you’ve been looking for a starting point to take action, this is a great place to jump in!
Join us for our next Pro-Democracy Phone Zap on Wednesday, July 16th. Register here!If you have any questions, please reach out to Yonah at Yonah@katalcenter.org. We hope to see you there!
Inspiring Resistance This Week
–On Tuesday, scientists staged a “science fair” in the lobby of a Congressional building to tell elected officials about the critical knowledge the US will lose because their research grants have been canceled. See a video here.
-Yesterday, outside San Francisco’s immigration courthouse, 20 protesters clashed with ICE agents as they attempted to stop an arrest with their bodies and bikes. ICE agents responded by having a black SUV carrying a detained immigrant drive through half a dozen protesters. See details here.
For more examples of resistance, check out Choose Democracy’s Resist List!
Katal Quotes of the Week
These are some of the quotes we’re thinking about this week.
“Whatever happens here is going to be important for the fate of the world… because we’re in the belly of the monster.” – Pablo Yoruba Guzman
“Revolution is about the need to re-evolve political, economic, and social justice and power back into the hands of the people, preferably through legislation and policies that make human sense.” – Bobby Seal
“It is our duty to fight for our freedom.
It is our duty to win.
We must love each other and support each other.
We have nothing to lose but our chains.” ― Assata Shakur, Assata: An Autobiography
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Katal works to develop intergenerational leadership and organizing capacity to build community-based power and win systemic change for equity, health, and justice.
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Email: info@katalcenter.org
Phone: 646.875.8822.