Latest news with #Monge
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia allocates $250M to tackle prison neglect and violence
The Brief Georgia lawmakers have approved a $250 million budget to improve prison conditions, including hiring 700 new guards and increasing staff salaries. Monique Monge, whose son died in custody, has launched the Almir Campaign to advocate for proper medical care for inmates. Families affected by the prison system are organizing a gathering to demand accountability and support legislative changes. Georgia lawmakers have approved a $250 million budget allocation aimed at improving conditions in the state's prisons. The move comes after a federal investigation found rampant violence and neglect in correctional facilities. SEE ALSO: Gov. Kemp proposes to spend hundreds of millions on Georgia prison renovation plan The backstory Georgia's prison system has come under intense scrutiny following a damning 93-page report from the U.S. Department of Justice released last October. The report highlighted rampant violence and neglect within the state's correctional facilities, describing the conditions as "cruel and unusual punishment" and asserting that Georgia failed to protect inmates, thereby violating their constitutional rights. This investigation has spurred significant action from state lawmakers. What we know In response to the federal investigation, Georgia lawmakers have approved a substantial $250 million budget allocation as part of the 2026 state budget. This funding is earmarked for improving conditions in the state's prisons, specifically by hiring 700 new guards and increasing salaries for existing staff. The goal is to address the issues of violence and neglect that have plagued the correctional facilities. Local perspective Monique Monge, a mother who has experienced the tragic consequences of these conditions firsthand, has become a vocal advocate for change. Her son, 23-year-old Almir Harris, died while in custody at Baldwin State Prison. Harris, who had autism and diabetes, was allegedly denied medication by prison staff and was found hours later in a day room due to overcrowding. Monge expressed her heartbreak, stating, "They ended up calling me on New Year's Eve to inform me that my son had died." What they're saying Despite the new funding, Monge remains skeptical about whether conditions will truly improve. "There hasn't been any improvement in what's been going on in the Georgia Department of Corrections," she said. Monge has since launched the Almir Campaign, advocating for legislation to ensure inmates receive proper medical care. She emphasized, "If an inmate wasn't sentenced to death, they should not be dying in prison for the prison's inability to provide them with adequate medical care." What's next Monge and other families affected by Georgia's prison system are organizing a gathering at Grant Park on Saturday at 3 p.m. to demand accountability and transparency. They aim to rally support for legislative changes that would prevent further tragedies. "We're trying to get people to sign it so that we can help implement some legislation to keep another family from going through this," Monge said. Why you should care The issues within Georgia's prison system are not isolated incidents but reflect broader systemic problems that affect the rights and well-being of inmates. The recent budget allocation is a step towards addressing these issues, but continued advocacy and public pressure are crucial to ensure meaningful change. The Source This article is based on original reporting by FOX 5's Rob DiRienzo.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Allies of socialist Zohran Mamdani form super PAC to support his New York mayoral bid
NEW YORK — Allies of socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani have launched a super PAC in his support, according to state Board of Elections filings. The PAC, called New Yorkers for Lower Costs, was formed Tuesday for the purpose of supporting Mamdani with ads and other materials ahead of June's Democratic mayoral primary, the filings show. There are no records it has spent or received any money yet, and it's unclear who exactly is running the PAC, though The New York Daily News was able to confirm its incorporation paperwork was filed by Regina Monge, a progressive political consultant based in Washington, D.C. Mamdani is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, which has long been critical of the involvement of super PACs in the electoral process since they have no spending limits and serve as a way for rich donors to flood local races with cash. The candidate earned the left-wing group's endorsement earlier this year. 'I thought DSA was against dark money,' a New York political operative who has worked on various local campaigns told the Daily News after being informed of the new pro-Mamdani PAC. 'This is interesting. I guess if you can't beat them, join them?' But a source on Mamdani's team said the PAC is a positive sign for the campaign, showing that those in the political sphere believe in Mamdani and see him as a powerful and viable candidate. Mamdani's mayoral bid has gained traction over the past few months with snazzy social media content and strong left-of-center policy takes. He has campaigned on a promise to freeze rents for rent-stabilized tenants in the city, make city buses free and provide free universal child care. He has raised more than $3.4 million with public matching funds since his campaign announcement in October — much of that money coming in the form of small-dollar donations, which his team has touted as signs of strong grassroots support. The Queens assemblymember came in third in a recent Quinnipiac University poll, netting 8% of the vote to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 31% and Mayor Adams' 11%. Monge, the consultant who filed the paperwork for the new Mamdani-boosting PAC, has a history of working for lefty political organizations and politicians. The Justice Democrats, a political action committee formed by ex-Bernie Sanders staffers that was instrumental in electing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive members of 'The Squad,' paid Monge nearly $47,000 during the 2024 election cycle for 'fundraising consulting,' records show. More recently, on Jan. 28, the campaign for Jessica Cisneros, a progressive congressional candidate in Texas, paid Monge $3,000 for consulting. Monge didn't return a request for comment, and a Mamdani representative declined to comment on the PAC's formation. Independent expenditures like the new Mamdani PAC aren't allowed by law to coordinate with declared candidates they're supporting. Super PACs can be a powerful force in mayoral races — offering an avenue for millionaires and billionaires to pour funds into campaign mailers and political ads in support of their preferred candidates. So far, the only other super PAC that's been filed in the race is in support of Cuomo. _____
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Allies of socialist Zohran Mamdani form super PAC to support his mayoral bid
Allies of socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani have launched a super PAC in his support, according to state Board of Elections filings. The PAC, called New Yorkers for Lower Costs, was formed Tuesday for the purpose of supporting Mamdani with ads and other materials ahead of June's Democratic mayoral primary, the filings show. There are no records it has spent or received any money yet, and it's unclear who exactly is running the PAC, though the Daily News was able to confirm its incorporation paperwork was filed by Regina Monge, a progressive political consultant based in Washington, D.C. Mamdani is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, which has long been critical of the involvement of super PACs in the electoral process since they have no spending limits and serve as a way for rich donors to flood local races with cash. The candidate earned the left-wing group's endorsement earlier this year. 'I thought DSA was against dark money,' a New York political operative who has worked on various local campaigns told the Daily News after being informed of the new pro-Mamdani PAC. 'This is interesting. I guess if you can't beat them, join them?' But a source on Mamdani's team said the PAC is a positive sign for the campaign, showing that those in the political sphere believe in Mamdani and see him as a powerful and viable candidate. Mamdani's mayoral bid has gained traction over the past few months with snazzy social media content and strong left-of-center policy takes. He has campaigned on a promise to freeze rents for rent-stabilized tenants in the city, make city buses free and provide free universal childcare. He has raised more than $3.4 million with public matching funds since his campaign announcement in October — much of that money coming in the form of small-dollar donations, which his team has touted as signs of strong grassroots support. The Queens assemblymember came in third in a recent Quinnipiac University poll, netting 8% of the vote to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 31% and Mayor Adams' 11%. Monge, the consultant who filed the paperwork for the new Mamdani-boosting PAC, has a history of working for lefty political organizations and politicians. The Justice Democrats, a political action committee formed by ex-Bernie Sanders staffers that was instrumental in electing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive members of 'The Squad,' paid Monge nearly $47,000 during the 2024 election cycle for 'fundraising consulting,' records show. More recently, on Jan. 28, the campaign for Jessica Cisneros, a progressive congressional candidate in Texas, paid Monge $3,000 for consulting. Monge didn't return a request for comment, and a Mamdani representative declined to comment on the PAC's formation. Independent expenditures like the new Mamdani PAC aren't allowed by law to coordinate with declared candidates they're supporting. Super PACs can be a powerful force in mayoral races — offering an avenue for millionaires and billionaires to pour funds into campaign mailers and political ads in support of their preferred candidates. So far, the only other super PAC that's been filed in the race is in support of Cuomo.
