-
A second chance: How the parole justice movement has gained steam in New York state
By Robbie Sequeira via BronxTimes Without a second chance, Donna Hylton would have never transformed her life. Without a second chance, Hylton may only be remembered for a traumatic childhood that inc…
-
Katal’s 10-Year Anniversary Event
For sponsorship and program book opportunities, please check out this outline. Got questions? Please email Jerry James at events@katalcenter.org. As you know, 2026 marks the 10-year anniversary of Kat…
-
Katal Center Responds to September Monthly Meeting of the State Commission of Correction
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 2026 Contact: Yonah Zeitz: 347-201-2768 yonah@katalcenter.org Follow online: @katalcenter | #ShutRikers | shutrikers.org At its September Meeting, New Y…
-
Sharing news about my transition from Katal – and new leadership
Dear Friends, I’m writing to share that I’ve made the bittersweet decision to transition out of my role as Katal’s executive director, effective at the end of the year. We’ve b…
-
Katal New York Update — September 24, 2026
In this issue: – Leadership Transition & 10-Year Anniversary – Oversight Hearing on Mental Health in NYC Jails & Upcoming Shut Rikers Meeting on Wednesday Oct, 21st – Authoritarianism, the elections…
-
Statement on the NYC Council’s Oversight Hearing On Mental Health Care in NYC Jails
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026 Contact: Yonah Zeitz, yonah@katalcenter.org | (347) 201-2769 Follow on Bluesky @KatalCenter | #ShutRikers | #CutShutInvestNY Statement from…
-
Testimony for Mental Health Care in New York City Jails Oversight Hearing
Thank you, Chair Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, for holding this New York City Council Committee on Criminal Justice oversight hearing on mental health care in New York City jails. My name is Yonah Zeitz…
-
RELEASE: 8th Human Being Dies in DOC Custody Under the Mamdani Administration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, September 17, 2026 Contact: Yonah Zeitz: yonah@katalcenter.org • 347-201-2769 Follow on socials @KatalCenter • #ShutRikers #CutShutInvestNY 8th Human Being Dies in…
-
Five-Year Anniversary of the Transformative Less Is More Act
Today, is the fifth anniversary of Governor Kathy Hochul signing the Less Is More Act into law. The success of this reform is a result of you all — the grassroots, statewide coalition featuring…
-
Five-Year Anniversary of the Less Is More Act
**PRESS RELEASE** September 17, 2026 Downstate/NYC Contact: Yonah Zeitz – 347-201-2768 – yonah@katalcenter.org Upstate Contact: Emily NaPier Singletary – 315-243-5135 – e…
-
Reflecting on a decade of organizing and building power
by gabriel sayegh The word katal comes from the field of chemistry: It’s the unit of measurement for catalytic change. Back in 2015, when we started building what would become the Katal Center, our…
-
Katal New York Update — September 11, 2026
In this issue: – One Year from Legal Deadline to Close Rikers & Upcoming Shut Rikers Meeting this Wednesday, Sept. 16th – Join us on Friday, September 18th for Hands Off NYC’s Community Weekend of A…
-
Bail Reform in New York #BailReformNY
Background When Katal launched in 2016, we immediately began working on pretrial reform. We first focused on the right to a speedy trial, because thousands of people were languishing at Rikers Island…
