New York State continues to have the worst income inequality and some of the highest child poverty rates in the nation, yet we also have the resources to solve these problems. In 2021, New York State committed to cutting child poverty in half by 2032. This year, Gov. Hochul and the state legislature can make good on that promise by passing a transformative package of policies that would slash child poverty and pay for it by fairly taxing the richest corporations and individuals. A critical first step is getting these policies into Gov. Hochul’s Executive Budget proposal. Over the next month, we are collecting signatures from individuals and organizations on a petition to Gov. Hochul calling on her to include these measures in her budget and to pay for them by fairly taxing the wealthiest individuals and corporations. (To sign the petition go to bit.ly/SIGNON.)

We will be delivering the petition to the governor’s mansion in Albany on Dec. 22 at 4pm as part of a Las Posadas celebration. Las Posadas is a Christmas tradition celebrated in Mexico and other Latin American countries that commemorates Mary and Joseph's journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, asking for lodging/Posada. After hearing many times that there was "no room at the inn," they finally found refuge in a humble stable. Today, we recreate this tradition by asking for “posada” in places where our communities continue to be denied the resources, access, and services they need to survive and thrive.

Join us on December 22 to knock on the door of Governor Hochul's mansion and deliver a petition asking her to fulfill New York State’s commitment to cut child poverty in half. While we believe New York can and must aim to abolish child poverty altogether, this is an important first target that our state must urgently meet. There IS room in our state budget to lift our children out of poverty.

We'll leave from First Presbyterian Church Albany at 4 pm for an approximately 0.8 mile walk to the Executive Mansion. Rides will then be provided back to the church, where we'll share a simple meal.

Funded in part by an Upper NY Conference of the United Methodist Church Peace with Justice Grant and by the NYS Poor People's Campaign