In this issue…
Katal New York Update
Organizing for Parole Reform with #LessIsMoreNY
Our Monthly NY Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call: Discussing Two Major Wins
Katal New York Update
Welcome to our new bi-weekly Katal New York Update!
We announced last month that, after nearly 5 years, we’re ending the Katal Weekly Update, and moving to two separate email updates — one for New York, another for Connecticut. Going forward, you’ll receive the Katal New York Update one week, and the Katal Connecticut Update the next.
Maybe you want the CT update, and not NY, or vice versa. You can select your preferences by filling out our 1 minute survey to tell us what content you want!
On to the update from New York!
Organizing for Parole Reform with #LessIsMoreNY
With only 9 weeks left in NY’s legislative session, we’re doubling down to pass #LessIsMoreNY. We’re putting pressure on NY State Legislators to bring transformative parole reform to New York with #LessIsMoreNY.
Last Wednesday, we were joined by Exodus Transitional Community and United Neighborhood Houses (UNH) for our last #LessIsMoreNY Day of Action in March. We spent a fun hour on zoom jamming out to tunes from our Community Organizer, Melanie Dominguez (DJ Melanie!), placing calls to New York State’s lawmakers, and sharing notes on the connections we made with legislative offices through the hour.
We’re not stopping in April – we’re having a #LessIsMoreNY Tweet Storm on Monday, April 12, from 12 noon – 1 p.m., where we will be tweeting at lawmakers to demand they support transformative parole reform.
And our next #LessIsMoreNY Day of Action is already set for Wednesday, April 14 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Register to join us for a fun and impactful hour calling legislators with friends for support, this month!
Finally, join us on Wednesday, April 21 from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. for our next #LessIsMoreNY Campaign Update Call.
Got questions about how to get involved in #LessIsMoreNY? Want to host a #LessIsMoreNY parole reform info-session? Please contact Community Organizer Melanie Dominguez at melanie@katalcenter.org.
Our Monthly NY Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call: Discussing Two Major Wins
Our April New York Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call opened with a hopeful mood this afternoon, as we reviewed two major victories in New York last week – the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act and the #HALTsolitary bill, both passing the legislature and signed into law.
Our speakers on the call discussed these recent accomplishments in New York and shared next steps to strengthen organizing and advocacy across issues and build movement in New York. We discussed:
- What’s in and out of the NY State budget, which was passed earlier this week.
- The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (#MRTA) and what New Yorkers can expect with the new law in the next year; including a review of the campaign to pass the bill from Melissa Moore from the Drug Policy Alliance.
- The historic passage of #HALTsolitary, with a reflection from Jerome Wright of New York Campaign for Alternatives to Isolated Confinement (NYCAIC) on what it took to limit solitary confinement in New York. Jerome cited the life and work of Kalief Browder, and noted the work of Kalief’s brother, Akeem Browder, in the fight to end solitary in New York.
- What’s next in securing #COVID19 vaccine access for incarcerated individuals after a court order mandating access; with Neighborhood Defender Service’s Libby Fischer giving us an update on the status of vaccinations in prisons.
Join us for our next NY Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call on Thursday, May 13, from 12 noon – 1 p.m. Register here!
Keep practicing social distancing, wear your mask, wash your hands, and check in on your neighbors. If you want to get involved, learn more about our work, or just connect, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Katal works to strengthen the people, policies, institutions, and movements that advance health, equity, and justice for everyone. Join us: web, Twitter, Facebook! Email: info@katalcenter.org. Phone: 646.875.8822.
