PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Lorenzo Van Ness, Director of Community Organizing and Engagement at New York City Commission on Racial Equity (CORE)
3:22:21
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3 min
Lorenzo Van Ness, representing the New York City Commission on Racial Equity (CORE), testified in support of increasing government accountability to the LGBTQIA+ community and those affected by the carceral system. They emphasized the disproportionate representation of Black, Latinx, and TGNCNBI individuals in the Department of Corrections custody and the need for additional programming in jails.
- Van Ness highlighted CORE's recent engagement with over 4,000 New Yorkers, revealing strong support for priorities addressing recidivism prevention and improving mental and physical health of incarcerated individuals.
- They expressed support for several proposed pieces of legislation, including Intros 412, 423, 625, 152, and 1027, as responsive to the needs expressed by New Yorkers.
- Van Ness shared personal experience as a Queer Trans LatinX New Yorker and emphasized the importance of listening to communities' needs for safety, protection, and the opportunity to thrive.
Lorenzo Van Ness
3:22:21
Alright.
3:22:22
Thank you.
3:22:23
Good afternoon, chair nurse and members of the committee of on criminal justice and members of the community.
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My name is Lorenzo Venice.
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My pronouns are they in them or a in Spanish.
3:22:34
I have the honor of serving as the direct of community organizing and engagement at the New York City Commission on Rachael Equity, also referred to as Kore.
3:22:43
Kore is a 15 person led a commission established through the November 2022 ballot to hold government accountable to advancing racial equity in government operations and increasing community voice in government decision making.
3:22:57
As per New York City Charter Section 3404, we work with all New Yorkers to complete this task and give particular consideration to the priorities of groups or categories of community members that have been historically underrepresented in or underserved by government and in in its processes.
3:23:18
The LGBTQIA plus community are identified in our New York City charter as a marginalized community.
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Additionally, through our city wide engagement, New Yorkers have identified people who are or have been formally incarcerated.
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And people who are loved ones of people who are currently or formally incarcerated as part of communities who are marginalized in our city.
3:23:41
My testimony today is in support of increasing government efforts to be accountable to the members of the LGBT QIA community and all community members that experience are connected to the carceral system.
3:23:53
As a clear Trans LatinoX New Yorker, I felt I felt for access and justice throughout my career.
3:23:59
My personal and professional work is informed by my relationships with those who have been incarcerated or love or have a loved one who has been incarcerated.
3:24:11
To begin, we must first acknowledge that black and Latinx communities as well as trans gender nonconforming, non binary, and intersex people are disproportionately represented in Department of Corrections custody.
3:24:23
In 2023, New York civil Liberty's Union ported that TGNC NBI community are heavily police criminalized and face multiple barriers and forms of discrimination when seeking basic needs, such as housing, food education, 16 transgender people report being incarcerated in their lifetime, and it jumps to 1 and 2 when we talk about black transgender women.
3:24:48
Over the past 3 months, KORE has heard from more than 4000 New Yorkers on the needs and priorities that New York City government should address to improve their well-being.
3:24:57
As an early analysis of the data, we are able to share that more than 50% of New Yorkers agree with our priorities and have emphasized the need for additional programming in jails to prevent recidivism and increase mental and physical health of the person incarcerated.
3:25:12
So propose legislation intros number 412-423 625, 152, and 1027.
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Let's New Yorkers know that you their government representatives hear them.
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Our communities are here today telling us what they need to be safe, protected, and to thrive, and we must listen.
3:25:35
Thank you.
Sandy Nurse
3:25:35
Thank you.
