From the May-June 2017 issue of News & Letters

Albany, N.Y.—In early April over 500 people rallied at the Capitol in support of a bill that would provide universal healthcare for all people living in New York State.

Professional organizations representing nurses and other medical personnel participated, as did feminists from National Women’s Liberation. The bill has passed the lower house of the legislature on two occasions but has been held up in the Senate by a bloc of Democrats closely allied with the Republicans. That bloc initially consisted of four Senators, but is now down to one, Simcha Felder of Brooklyn.

Supporters of the bill have vowed to keep the pressure on to get it out of committee, and have it voted on by the whole Senate and then signed by Governor Cuomo. The groups supporting the bill lobbied the rally and have launched a postcard campaign to persuade the recalcitrant senator to support the bill. More action is expected when the Legislature returns from its Easter break.

—Natalia Spiegel