In this issue…
Upcoming #LessIsMoreNY Events
Immigrants Are Essential Rally
Demanding Gov. Cuomo Sign #LessIsMoreNY
The #LessIsMoreNY Act passed on the last day of the legislative session in June! This is the most significant parole reform passed in the country to date – its impact will be enormous. This transformative parole bill will support individuals during their re-entry, increase public safety, and save taxpayer money. Right now there are more than 35,000 people on parole in New York subject to incarceration at any moment for non-criminal technical violations, like missing an appointment 0r failing an alcohol or drug test. Thousands of people — overwhelmingly Black and Latinx — are currently incarcerated for non-criminal technical violations of parole in New York.
New York sends more people on parole back to prison for technical violations than any other state, and sends more people on parole back to prison for “drug treatment” than all other states combined. In 2019 alone, approx. 40% of all new admissions to NY prisons were people on parole re-incarcerated for minor, non-criminal technical violations. The #LessIsMoreNY Act will change this — but first Governor Cuomo must sign it into law.
By overhauling how parole in New York works — including limiting or otherwise prohibiting incarceration for most non-criminal technical violations — Less is More will improve the lives of thousands of people on parole, enhance due process, strengthen public safety, and more. Check out our new slide deck on Twitter and Instagram which goes over the key provisions of #LessIsMoreNY!
Tonight, we are holding a #LessIsMoreNY Instagram Live at 6:30 PM. During the Instagram Live, our members with discuss the #LessIsMoreNY Act and why it is so important for our communities, next steps in the fight to have the Governor sign #LessIsMoreNY, and details about how to get involved. Click here to watch the IG Live or tune in @katalcenter on Instagram!
Next week, we have several events to get the #LessIsMoreNY Act across the finish line:
- Join us for our #LessIsMoreNY Phone Zap on Wednesday, August 4 from 11:30am – 12:30pm. Register here!
- Join us for our #LessIsMoreNY Facebook Live on Thursday, August 5 from 6:00 – 7:00pm. Register here!
- Take immediate online action to contact the Governor and tell him to sign #LessIsMoreNY into law. Take action here!
In the meantime, read the latest articles on #LessIsMoreNY:
- Read the latest article on our #LessIsMoreNY Rally in Amsterdam News here!
- Read this article on our #LessIsMoreNY Rally in Politics NY here!
Let’s make this happen!
Immigrants Are Essential Rally!
Last Friday, we joined Make the Road NY and dozens of other groups for the Immigrants Are Essential Rally! The rally focused on ensuring a pathway to citizenship for undocumented essential workers. During the rally, we helped shut down the Manhattan Bridge to demand a humane immigration system for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US.
Throughout the pandemic, elected officials across New York frequently touted “essential workers” as the people keeping our state and country running and fed. However, we know these essential industries like farming, health care, domestic, food service, and more are disproportionately made up of immigrants. As Make the Road NY stated, “Nearly 1 in 5 essential workers are immigrants – including 5 million undocumented immigrants, DACA, and TPS-holders.”
Take action here to demand Senator Schumer fight for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented essential workers!
Sign up for the Katal Connecticut Update
We announced in March 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. If you’d also like to keep up what we’re doing in Connecticut, please click here to sign up for the Katal Connecticut Update!
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.
