Katal New York Update — December 19, 2024

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Organizing to #ShutRikers in 2025

Katal’s #Shutrikers march and rally in Foley Square Manhattan, 9.25.24

This year, we organized across the city, state, and federal levels to build power and shut down Rikers. Our team will recharge over the holidays as we gear up to continue and intensify the fight in 2025.

Under Mayor Eric Adams, conditions at Rikers have gotten worse and remain life-threatening for human beings—the people incarcerated and those who work there. Violence at Rikers is out of control, and the jail population continues to rise. At least 33 people have died in the city jail system since Adams became mayor in 2022. We need urgent action to save lives. 

We will continue to demand that Mayor Adams and the New York City Council: CUT the number of people held on Rikers and cut the budgets used for caging people, SHUT down the Rikers Island jail complex, and INVEST in real community safety: housing, health care, education, and jobs.

Until Rikers is shut down, the federal courts must appoint a receiver to take over city jails and improve conditions. As receivership appears likely in 2025, we’ll keep the pressure on the courts and push the City Council to pass Resolution 183, calling for an independent receiver. 

At the state level, we’re advancing legislation to strengthen and diversify the State Commission on Correction (SCOC), which has the authority to shut down facilities, like Rikers, that have failed to keep those incarcerated safe. With jails from Buffalo to Suffolk County in various stages of crisis, this legislation has significant implications for all jails and prisons in New York.

We look forward to hitting the streets, organizing at City Hall and the Capitol in Albany, and building power to strengthen our communities. 


#ShutRikers Outreach and Favorite Doors of 2024

Our outreach team has been busy this year hitting nearly 70,000 doors across the five boroughs and talking to thousands of New Yorkers about shutting down Rikers and investing in our communities. Check out some of the team’s favorite decorated doors we came across during our outreach this year. 

In 2025, we’ll double-down on our organizing and outreach efforts to continue meeting New Yorkers where they are at and getting them involved in the fight. 

If you’d like to join us for outreach in the new year or schedule a session in your neighborhood, please reach out to Melanie at melanie@katalcenter.org.


Katal In The News

Last week, the Daily News broke a story about a last ditch effort by the Adams administration to try and undermine the purpose of receivership by lobbying to get the Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie appointed as the receiver. Our advocacy director, Yonah Zeitz, was quoted in the article saying: 

“Receivers are meant to bring in new leadership who are absolved from political pressures and can cut through the red tap. Appointing the current commissioner will result in more of the same, more deaths and more violence.”

Check out the full Daily News article here


January NY Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call

Join us for our first New York Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call of 2025, on Thursday, January 9th from 12-1pm. 

This call will take place the day after the 2025 legislative session kicks off in Albany. See the full legislative calendar here. On the call, our lobbyist will discuss what to expect at the start of the session and we’ll be joined by organizers and advocates leading criminal justice campaigns across the state. 

Register to join us Thursday, January 9th, from 12 – 1 pm!

If you have any questions about the statewide call or would like to be a presenter, please contact Yonah at Yonah@katalcenter.org.


Katal Quotes of the Week

These are some of the quotes we’re thinking about this week.

“Never to forget where we came from and always praise the bridges that carried us over.” Fannie Lou Hamer

“Mistakes are a fact of life: It is the response to the error that counts.” – Nikki Giovanni 


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Katal works to strengthen the people, policies, institutions, and movements that advance equity, health, and justice. Join us: web, X (Twitter), Facebook! Email: info@katalcenter.org Phone: 646.875.8822

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