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]]>CONTACT: Mariah McGough, [email protected]
READY, SET, RANK: VOCAL ACTION FUND ANNOUNCES SLATE AND RANK OF NYC MAYORAL CANDIDATES
NEW YORK — Today, the VOCAL Action Fund is proud to announce the slate and rank of endorsed candidates for the New York City Mayoral Election. The VOCAL Action Fund reviewed candidate platforms, held in-person meetings, and assessed for viability. Candidates were vetted based on their commitment to real solutions and a politics grounded in justice, equity, and compassion. Only the chosen few who committed to making progress to end homelessness, HIV, mass incarceration, and the failed drug war received a ranking from directly-impacted VOCAL Action Fund ambassadors.
VOCAL Action Fund Endorses the Following Mayoral Candidates, in Rank Order:
“Our city is in desperate need of a leader who will fight for everyday New Yorkers, not billionaire interests,” said Jawanza Williams with VOCAL Action Fund. “Our slate of mayoral candidates was ranked by VOCAL Action Fund Leaders who have been left behind by previous administrations and know these candidates will bring the change they want to see. Our next mayor must be an ally, not an adversary, to our communities.”
“We don’t need another Mayor Eric Adams – we need someone who will stand up for the people and co-govern with us,” said Susan Shervington, VOCAL Action Fund Ambassador. “After my son was almost killed by police, it’s extremely important to me that we move towards safe, effective solutions to these challenges instead of just continuing to throw the NYPD at everything. We know what we need – housing, healthcare, and affordability. All the candidates we’ve ranked are champions of our issues, and we’re hopeful New Yorkers will take this chance to elect someone who will work for us!”
VOCAL Action Fund urges New York City voters to not rank Andrew Cuomo, who is backed by Trump billionaires and the real estate industry. We do not need another four years of quid-pro-quo corruption, campaign finance violations and DOJ meddling. Cuomo’s disgraced track record as former Governor tells a disturbing story of toxicity, neglect, and preventable death. Under Cuomo’s so-called leadership, homelessness soared, overdose deaths increased, and he opted to arrest leaders instead of signing proven policies to solve issues. See the “Don’t Rank Cuomo Movement” to learn why Cuomo does not deserve to be ranked by New York voters.
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]]>The post VOCAL Action Fund Announces 2025 New York State Local City Council Endorsement Slate appeared first on VOCAL Action Fund.
]]>VOCAL ACTION FUND ANNOUNCES 2025 NEW YORK STATE LOCAL CITY COUNCIL ENDORSEMENT SLATE
Endorsed Candidates Have Completed a Closed Interview Process and Committed to the VOCAL Action Fund Pledge
Past Endorsed Candidates Have Fought for and Won Meaningful Change, Such as the Recent Housing Access Voucher Program Victory, CityFHEPS, and Good Cause Eviction
NEW YORK — Today, the VOCAL Action Fund is proud to announce the endorsement of our statewide city council slate. VOCAL Action Fund has a closed interview process and only progressive candidates were invited to apply. Among those who applied, only the chosen few who committed to making progress on ending homelessness, HIV, mass incarceration, and the failed drug war received a vote from directly impacted VOCAL Action Fund ambassadors.
“The VOCAL Action Fund is proud to endorse a slate of city council candidates across the state that have a personal politics rooted in care, compassion, equity, and justice,” said Kim Smith, VOCAL Action Fund Political Director. “When you give attention and care to the most vulnerable and marginalized amongst us, you demonstrate a wider concern for everyone. We are confident that our endorsed candidates will bring much needed change to communities across New York. That’s why we’ll be hitting the ground in their respective districts, knocking doors, and making calls, because their victory is our victory.”
VOCAL Action Fund endorses the following New York State Local City Council Candidates:
Albany Common Council:
Rochester City Council:
New York City:
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]]>The post From Tickets and Arrests to the Killing of Samuel Sharpe Jr: The GOP’s Broken Response to Homelessness and Unaffordable Housing appeared first on VOCAL Action Fund.
]]>FROM TICKETS AND ARRESTS TO THE KILLING OF SAMUEL SHARPE JR: THE GOP’S BROKEN RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS AND UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING
The GOP’s Agenda Will Waste Money, Worsen Homelessness, and Fuel Violence
Today Also Marks 10 Years Since Eric Garner Was Murdered By NYPD Officers
NEW YORK — Yesterday, weeks after SCOTUS ruled that people who cannot afford a place to live should be ticketed and arrested for sleeping outside — even if a city has nowhere for them to go — Samuel Sharpe Jr., a known Black veteran experiencing homelessness was shot and killed by police a mile from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. In response, VOCAL Action Fund released the following statement attributable to Adolfo Abreu, with the VOCAL Action Fund:
“In an United States where everyone has what they need to thrive, Samuel Sharpe Jr. would be alive, housed, and getting the care he needs to live a long and prosperous life. Instead, our country failed. Horrifically, the nation just witnessed the police respond with no mercy in their heart to individuals who were in a moment of crisis with violence. Police — who were outside of their jurisdiction — shot and killed Samuel after he was left homeless for years, forgotten by the elected officials and systems meant to protect all people.
Housing is the solution to homelessness. Service and care are the solutions to substance use and mental health needs. This should be obvious, and supported by both political parties and every politician. The highest court in the land recently ruled on a precedent to arrest, fine, and ticket people who are homeless – only worsening the existing crisis. The real solutions are compassion, housing, and services that have been proven time and again to work.
Instead of solutions, the GOP and a growing number of Democrats want to incite fear and amplify chaos in our streets — and then ticket, arrest, or shoot people. From New York City to Milwaukee, all elected officials should be invested in providing people with housing and care, not handcuffs and cruelty.”
BACKGROUND:
VOCAL Action Fund stands with organizations across the country calling on the Biden administration and Congress to make a downpayment investment of at least $356 billion in the next year with continued funding in future years to ensure that everybody has safe, decent housing that they can afford. Specifically, we call for full funding of:
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]]>The post VOCAL Action Fund Endorses Champions and Activates the Statewide VOCAL Voter Bloc to Address Voter Suppression appeared first on VOCAL Action Fund.
]]>VOCAL ACTION FUND ENDORSES CHAMPIONS AND ACTIVATES THE STATEWIDE VOCAL VOTER BLOC TO ADDRESS VOTER SUPPRESSION
These Candidates Have a Proven Track Record of Championing Equitable Policies that Contribute to the Quality and Life Expectancy of New Yorkers
NEW YORK — Today, VOCAL Action Fund announced its endorsement of nearly two dozen candidates across New York State. These candidates have shown their dedication and determination to promote policies that will keep New Yorkers from all walks of life alive and thriving.
The VOCAL Action Fund is intentionally working to create a just democracy for all New Yorkers. For the first time in VOCAL Action Fund history, we will deploy VOCAL Action Fund Ambassadors and activate our VOCAL Voter Bloc to move voters to support our candidates who are dedicated to ending the War on Drugs, mass incarceration, homelessness, and HIV/AIDS. The VOCAL Voter Bloc consists of our statewide allies, and members and leaders whom the system has labeled low propensity, low income, Black and brown voters. These are our people, and the people the system has left behind in the democratic process.
The candidates receiving VOCAL Action Fund’s endorsements are:
“It is the hope of the VOCAL Action Fund that our efforts will not only get our candidates across the finish line, but combat voter suppression and improve turnout,” said Kim Smith, Political Director of the VOCAL Action Fund.
“These candidates have championed our bills and their policies are inline with what constituents want,” said Majid Dunson, VOCAL Action Fund Ambassador and Upstate Field Captain. “My outreach connects me with different types of people in the neighborhood so I can understand their needs and what they look for in a candidate. Voters should understand that when we endorse the right candidates, we’re endorsing ourselves and our communities.”
“When I go out to canvas, so many people don’t even know who’s running for office. But the VOCAL Action Fund has done the work to find the champions who will fight homelessness, mass incarceration, HIV, and the War on Drugs,” said Althea Matthews, VOCAL Action Fund Ambassador and Downstate Field Captain. “These candidates recognize that our issues are human issues and affect our community at large. We’re building our voter bloc to make sure people understand the issues and bring that to the ballot box.”
BACKGROUND:
VOCAL Action Fund is an advocacy organization allied with VOCAL-NY and acts as the policy and political voice of the most marginalized and vulnerable New Yorkers. Centuries of community disinvestment have led to the ongoing crises of historic numbers of New Yorkers dying from preventable overdoses, record high homelessness, emerging HIV housing barriers and overpopulated jails. The VOCAL Action Fund is committed to using its endorsement process to support political leaders who will: bring equity to democracy, produce viable solutions to reverse generational and systemic harms, and create a caring and compassionate New York State that benefits all New Yorkers.
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]]>The post VOCAL Action Fund Announces Early Endorsements of Candidates Across the State Who Will Champion VOCAL-NY’s Platform With Justice, Compassion, & Love appeared first on VOCAL Action Fund.
]]>VOCAL ACTION FUND ANNOUNCES EARLY ENDORSEMENTS OF CANDIDATES ACROSS THE STATE WHO WILL CHAMPION VOCAL-NY’S PLATFORM WITH JUSTICE, COMPASSION, & LOVE
These Candidates Have a Proven Track Record of Championing Equitable Policies that Contribute to the Quality and Life Expectancy of New Yorkers
NEW YORK — Today, VOCAL Action Fund announced its early endorsement of more than a dozen candidates across New York State. These candidates have shown their dedication and determination to promote policies that will keep New Yorkers from all walks of life alive and thriving. The candidates receiving VOCAL Action Fund’s early endorsements are:
“These candidates are willing to tackle the deep injustices in our current systems regarding housing, criminal justice, overdose prevention, and HIV/AIDS,” said Leslie Becher, an Albany-based leader with VOCAL Action Fund. “They have earned our early endorsement because they will help build the power of low-income people, and know the issues impacting our communities are driven by institutional oppression, not personal failure.”
“The VOCAL Action Fund is endorsing these candidates because we are entrusting them with fighting for our demands,” said Elizabeth Mackey, a New York City-based leader with VOCAL Action Fund. “They have a history of standing with us and attending our rallies. They believe in what we believe in — New York needs policies that will end the war on drugs, homelessness, mass incarceration, and HIV.”
“We are proud to endorse these candidates early because as a community we’re determined to put people in office who will help us and stick to their word,” said Tracie Adams, a Rochester-based leader with VOCAL Action Fund. “We have lost so many loved ones in recent years, and our state is facing new challenges, like new asylum-seekers. We all deserve care and compassion, and these candidates will earn our votes because they will provide just that.”
“New York State has a problem with housing, the war on drugs, HIV/AIDS, and mass incarceration,” said Roy Bonner, a Syracuse-based leader with VOCAL Action Fund. “As such, we need champion-candidates who are willing to step up and not just speak on these issues, but act and try to resolve them. Men and women are being released from an overcrowded prison system to nothing, with no safe place to rest one’s head and plan for success. I hope that VOCAL Action Fund’s endorsement will inspire these candidates to work out solutions that are acceptable for all parties.”
BACKGROUND:
VOCAL Action Fund is an advocacy organization allied with VOCAL-NY and acts as the policy and political voice of the most marginalized and vulnerable New Yorkers. Centuries of community disinvestment have led to the ongoing crises of historic numbers of New Yorkers dying from preventable overdoses, record high homelessness, emerging HIV housing barriers and over populated jails. The VOCAL Action Fund is committed to using its endorsement process to support political leaders who will: bring equity to democracy, produce viable solutions to reverse generational and systemic harms, and create a caring and compassionate New York State that benefits all New Yorkers.
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]]>The post VOCAL Action Fund Endorses Additional New York City Candidates Who Will Champion Care and Compassion In Office appeared first on VOCAL Action Fund.
]]>VOCAL ACTION FUND ENDORSES ADDITIONAL NEW YORK CITY CANDIDATES WHO WILL CHAMPION CARE AND COMPASSION IN OFFICE
NEW YORK — Today, VOCAL Action Fund announced its endorsement of two additional NYC-based candidates in Manhattan and the Bronx for the New York City Council. The candidates endorsed for City Council include:
“Carmen De La Rosa has been endorsed in Manhattan to represent and support our life-saving and life-improving campaigns to create a caring and compassionate city that benefits all of us in NYC,” said Reginald Brown, a VOCAL Action Fund leader and Manhattan resident. “We look forward to continuing our work alongside her in City Hall.”
“These candidates are willing to stand with us, learn our issues, and provide more than lip service,” said Hiawatha Collins, a VOCAL Action Fund leader and Bronx resident. “We vow to support VOCAL Action Fund endorsed candidates because they support us in our issues. We hope that this continues after the election when it means the most. There are those who we have supported us in the past who have already done this, and we trust these candidate to continue creating systemic change and endorse the policies that will save lives.”
BACKGROUND:
VOCAL Action Fund is dedicated to ending the AIDS epidemic, drug war, mass incarceration and homelessness in New York State by building the power of low-income people directly impacted by these issues. The continued harm from criminalization, incarceration, and the legacy of former Governor Cuomo’s austerity have resulted in a historic number of New Yorkers dying from preventable overdoses, record high homelessness, increased rates of Hepatitis C and emerging HIV clusters. VOCAL Action Fund is committed to supporting political leaders who will: bring equity to democracy, produce viable solutions to reverse generational and systemic harms, and create a caring and compassionate New York State that benefits all New Yorkers.
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]]>The post VOCAL Action Fund Endorses Brooklyn Candidates Who Will Champion Care and Compassion in Office appeared first on VOCAL Action Fund.
]]>VOCAL ACTION FUND ENDORSES BROOKLYN CANDIDATES WHO WILL CHAMPION CARE AND COMPASSION IN OFFICE
NEW YORK — Today, VOCAL Action Fund announced its endorsement of a slate of Brooklyn-based champions for the New York City Council. The Brooklyn candidates endorsed for City Council include:
“This new group of candidates are no strangers to putting people first,” said Milton Perez, a VOCAL Action Fund leader and Brooklyn resident. “They will put people over property, and people over profits. Things need to change for the better and more people need to be included in the decision-making process, so to see this new generation of elected officials extending their hand to directly impacted individuals is the way to go.”
BACKGROUND:
VOCAL Action Fund is dedicated to ending the AIDS epidemic, drug war, mass incarceration and homelessness in New York State by building the power of low-income people directly impacted by these issues. The continued harm from criminalization, incarceration, and the legacy of former Governor Cuomo’s austerity have resulted in a historic number of New Yorkers dying from preventable overdoses, record high homelessness, increased rates of Hepatitis C and emerging HIV clusters. VOCAL Action Fund is committed to supporting political leaders who will: bring equity to democracy, produce viable solutions to reverse generational and systemic harms, and create a caring and compassionate New York State that benefits all New Yorkers.
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]]>The post VOCAL Action Fund Endorses Queens Candidates Who Will Champion Care and Compassion in Office appeared first on VOCAL Action Fund.
]]>VOCAL ACTION FUND ENDORSES QUEENS CANDIDATES WHO WILL CHAMPION CARE AND COMPASSION IN OFFICE
NEW YORK — Today, VOCAL Action Fund announced its endorsement of a slate of Queens-based candidates for the New York City Council. The Queens candidates endorsed for City Council include:
“These candidates have led the progressive charge in one of the nation’s largest counties, and the VOCAL Action Fund is proud to stand with them,” said Jon McFarlane, a VOCAL Action Fund leader and Queens resident. “Together, we will navigate the NY City Council and pave the way for the social and criminal justice challenges, past and present. From crafting solutions that will benefit the city’s poorest and most marginalized people, to voicing concerns regarding the corruptive influence of the city’s 1%, these elected officials have demonstrated that their endorsement is well deserved.”
BACKGROUND:
VOCAL Action Fund is dedicated to ending the AIDS epidemic, drug war, mass incarceration and homelessness in New York State by building the power of low-income people directly impacted by these issues. The continued harm from criminalization, incarceration, and the legacy of former Governor Cuomo’s austerity have resulted in a historic number of New Yorkers dying from preventable overdoses, record high homelessness, increased rates of Hepatitis C and emerging HIV clusters. VOCAL Action Fund is committed to supporting political leaders who will: bring equity to democracy, produce viable solutions to reverse generational and systemic harms, and create a caring and compassionate New York State that benefits all New Yorkers.
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]]>The post VOCAL Action Fund Endorses Merton Simpson for Albany County Legislature Who Will Champion Care and Compassion in Office appeared first on VOCAL Action Fund.
]]>VOCAL ACTION FUND ENDORSES MERTON SIMPSON FOR ALBANY COUNTY LEGISLATURE WHO WILL CHAMPION CARE AND COMPASSION IN OFFICE
NEW YORK — Today, VOCAL Action Fund announced its endorsement of Merton Simpson for Albany County Legislature. In response, VOCAL Action Fund released the following statement, attributable to Jamar Richards, a VOCAL Action Fund member and Albany resident:
“VOCAL Action Fund is grateful to endorse a candidate like Merton, who is a tireless advocate on civil rights, climate issues, and workplace diversity. We are looking forward to working with him when he is reelected. Merton is not an establishment Democrat — he will support progressive policies, and we believe he’ll be a great asset to the Albany County Legislature.”
BACKGROUND:
VOCAL Action Fund is dedicated to ending the AIDS epidemic, drug war, mass incarceration and homelessness in New York State by building the power of low-income people directly impacted by these issues. The continued harm from criminalization, incarceration, and the legacy of former Governor Cuomo’s austerity have resulted in a historic number of New Yorkers dying from preventable overdoses, record high homelessness, increased rates of Hepatitis C and emerging HIV clusters. VOCAL Action Fund is committed to supporting political leaders who will: bring equity to democracy, produce viable solutions to reverse generational and systemic harms, and create a caring and compassionate New York State that benefits all New Yorkers.
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]]>The post VOCAL Action Fund Endorses Rochester Candidates Who Will Champion Care and Compassion in Office appeared first on VOCAL Action Fund.
]]>VOCAL ACTION FUND ENDORSES ROCHESTER CANDIDATES WHO WILL CHAMPION CARE AND COMPASSION IN OFFICE
NEW YORK — Today, VOCAL Action Fund announced its endorsement of a slate of Rochester-based candidates for Rochester City Council, and Rochester and Monroe County Legislature. The Rochester candidates endorsed include:
“These candidates are advocates, not just politicians,” said Majid Dunson, a VOCAL Action Fund member and Rochester resident. “They stand for the concerns I have in my community and Rochester as a whole. These candidates earned our endorsement because they believe in housing as a human right, public safety that actually keeps us safe, services for the community, and services for us. These candidates won’t treat us like nobodies – they recognize our political power for what it is. I’m excited to continue outreach for these Rochester candidates.”
BACKGROUND:
VOCAL Action Fund is dedicated to ending the AIDS epidemic, drug war, mass incarceration and homelessness in New York State by building the power of low-income people directly impacted by these issues. The continued harm from criminalization, incarceration, and the legacy of former Governor Cuomo’s austerity have resulted in a historic number of New Yorkers dying from preventable overdoses, record high homelessness, increased rates of Hepatitis C and emerging HIV clusters. VOCAL Action Fund is committed to supporting political leaders who will: bring equity to democracy, produce viable solutions to reverse generational and systemic harms, and create a caring and compassionate New York State that benefits all New Yorkers.
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