Author: Jess Powers

Fight for Accessible Taxis: Tell Your State Senators to Oppose S.7833-A (Golden)/A.6201-A (Pichardo)

We are part of a coalition of disability rights groups that oppose S.7833-A and A.6201-A. This is a backdoor attempt to overturn a long-awaited New York City Taxi and Limousine (TLC) regulation intended to get wheelchair-accessible for-hire vehicles (FHV) on the road across New York City.

The TLC regulations these bills seek to do away with are the result of years of advocacy by the disability community. They passed after more than a year of study by the TLC and after extensive public input.

These bills would isolate people with disabilities into a separate, unequal service. Like most New Yorkers, we want full integration of all people, no matter who they are, into daily life.

  • The dispatch system S.7833-A and A.6201-A propose was tried by the TLC and by the FHV industry before and failed.
  • FHV companies have opposed any attempt to get them to offer accessible service for at least two decades. These bills are no different.
  • The TLC rules are a crucial first step toward providing wheelchair-accessible service across the city. They have widespread support in the disability community.

Dozens of individuals and organizations spoke in support of the TLC proposal at a hearing on September 2017. Wheelchair users described how the ability to travel by accessible yellow taxis changed their lives for the better.

Call your NYS Senator now and insist that they oppose these bills. Find your Senator here. Let’s not move backward on progress!

Campaign for New Leaders

We are launching our first crowdfunding campaign from May 10-June 10th! Please join us in raising money and awareness to support our Campaign for New Leaders. Together we can cultivate new disability organizers in NYC.

Our goal is to raise $40,000 to fund:

  • developing new organizers to work on reducing barriers for people with disabilities
  • providing accessible transit and meals for lobby days in Albany
  • media training and creating peer videos on transportation, health care, and other advocacy issues
  • getting people to rallies and events and supporting our participants in telling their own stories
  • building awareness on how independent living centers (ILCs) work for you and your community

We can’t do it without your support! Please donate here. Come back to this page for updates on the campaign, post in the comments, share on social media, and check out our stories. Stay tuned for updates! 

Monday, May 14th: We have an anonymous matching donor until midnight! Every dollar you donate today will be worth double. 

Monday, May 21st: CAMPAIGN EXTENDED. We haven’t reached our goal yet, so we’re extending our campaign until June 10th. It’s not too late to donate and spread the word.

Friday, June 1st: We’re halfway there! Please give if you can and share with your friends.

Monday, June 11th: We didn’t quite make our goal, but it’s not too late to give to this Campaign. Thank you to everyone who supported us by donating and sharing. We’ll still be able to do a lot and look forward to joining you at lobby visits and rallies to support New Yorkers with disabilities.

Donate button.

 

 

Hands Off SNAP

Take Action NOW:
 
Call Your Rep TODAY – On Tuesday, May 8th, we all need to call our members of Congress and tell them to “Vote NO on H.R. 2, the Farm Bill!”  (Seriously, this means you and everyone you can reach about this.) Please make use of Feeding America’s toll-free number: 1-888-398-8702. You will be connected to your Representative’s office after entering your zip code. We need to let Congress know that we want them to “Vote NO on H.R. 2” because its rigid work rules will reduce or eliminate SNAP for millions. It will deny food to children, veterans, women, and people needing treatment and/or with disabilities. Please share this number with your networks and ask them to encourage people to call. Please make sure you call on Tuesday, May 8th!
 

Please share our posts on social media: Facebook and Twitter. 

Can’t call? You can also text RESIST to 50409 or contact elected officials online. 

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