May Newsletter

Last week’s news about the likely overthrow of Roe v. Wade was a devastating blow for the rights of millions of Americans. We joined our communities in the streets to voice our outrage and call on our state officials to ensure New York is a safe and affordable destination for people from other states to access abortion care.

Though abortion rights are protected under New York state law, our for-profit healthcare system remains unjust. We need to ensure that all healthcare (including abortion) is free and accessible to all New Yorkers, regardless of income or immigration status, by passing the New York Health Act. 

We’re angry and frustrated right now, but we’re not giving up. In New York and across the country, politicians debate basic human rights like housing, healthcare, and a livable future, while our communities struggle. These issues are life and death for millions of people – so it’s our duty to fight as smart and as hard as we can to win.

As always, we’re thankful you’re in the fight with us. Keep reading for updates on our work and ways you can get involved.

We went to Albany for a Housing + Healthcare Day of Action, where we rallied with other community organizations and visited the offices of our Hudson Valley legislators to share our stories and urge them to support Good Cause Eviction and the New York Health Act.

We also held a Good Cause Eviction press conference in Kingston with Lt. Governor candidate Ana María Archila, Assembly candidates Sarahana Shrestha and Vanessa Agudelo, and Hudson Valley local electeds urging the state legislature to follow the lead of Hudson Valley cities that have enacted the law locally and pass Good Cause Eviction protections this year.

Want to get more involved in our organizing work? Join us at our monthly community meetings (food and childcare provided) this Thursday and Friday! RSVP to a community meeting in your area. 

If you’d rather connect with us from home, Join our May VIRTUAL community meeting on Wednesday, May 25 at 7pm via Zoom. RSVP here!

The New York Court of Appeals ruled that the recently drawn State Senate and Congressional maps were unconstitutional, meaning that the maps will have to be redrawn and those primaries will be delayed until August.

This ruling means that there’s a strong possibility that the Assembly maps (aka our endorsed candidate Sarahana’s race) could be struck down as well, but since they weren’t named in the original lawsuit, they aren’t impacted by this ruling. We’re still reaching out to as many voters as we can and talking with them about Sarahana’s transformative vision for New York. Join us! Sign up to canvass or phonebank for Sarahana here.  

Also, the Democratic establishment in the state legislature pushed through a bill that removed former Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin from the ballot and allowed Governor Hochul to handpick his replacement – none other than Congressman Antonio Delgado, who represents a large part of the Hudson Valley. We know Antonio Delgado – and we know that he’s repeatedly failed to support workers, immigrants, and tenants, while defending corporate and real estate interests.

New York needs a Lt. Governor who will be a champion for the people – and the only candidate in the race with a real vision for the many is still Ana María Archila. She marched with us for the Excluded Workers Fund, rallied with us for Good Cause Eviction, and has dedicated her life to fighting for rights and dignity for working people. Learn more about Ana María Archila here. 

With the legislative session wrapping up in less than a month, now is the time to take action!

If you have time to spare, sign up to volunteer with us and we’ll be in touch with ways you can join our fights. 

If you only have 2 minutes, Sign our 2022 Legislative Session Letter and we’ll send a letter to your state representatives on your behalf in support of the New York Health Act, Build Public Renewables Act, and Good Cause Eviction.