When Critical Resistance NYC was formed in 2001, we set as a priority an emphasis on bringing in people most impacted by the Prison Industrial Complex, the PIC. We decided that it was important to bring CR's vision to people who didn't have the access or the privilege to come to CRNYC meetings. We set our focus on working with women from the La Casita program in the South Bronx, a residential substance abuse treatment facility for mothers with children and mothers to be.

Since 2002, Critical Resistance NYC has been conducting workshops and support groups at La Casita. Women from La Casita who are able to travel outside the facility have come to CRNYC events and meetings, and several have held internships and fellowships, working from the CRNYC office on a range of CRNYC projects and campaigns. Recently, CRNYC's La Casita Project started a garden a few blocks from La Casita and plans are underway for the La Casita children's project.

To get involved in CRNYC's La Casita Project, contact Pilar Maschi at pilar@criticalresistance.org

NEW VIDEO!
CR NYC continues to fight against a new Bronx jail.
See a video about the campaign HERE.

CRITICAL RESISTANCE NYC AND CR MEMBERS RESIDING AT  LA CASITA SPEAK OUT AGAINST A NEW BRONX JAIL AT OAK POINT

UPDATE - December 20, 2006
Women of La Casita Speak Out Against the Bronx Jail

These are statements given by women in the Bronx, all mothers living at La Casita and members of Critical Resistance NYC:

"I am a member of Critical Resistance I also have strong feelings on what is going on in the prison system and society. I definitely do not agree with new jails or with the over population of the jails we have now. I think the money should be spent on more positive things such as children’s programs, parks, the education system, drug programs, etc., please take these things into consideration and free the people. Thank You."

"By the Commissioner building the new jail they, are not only wanting to lock up more people, but are targeting the younger generation which is our children, girls, boys, and that’s not a good look on their behalf. Basically they don’t care what they do all they care about is making their big time dollars. They are not really locking up people that really need to be. Also being locked up can really mess up your record for getting a job."

"I want good things for the community it’s better for us and the community I want us to build housing, jobs and parks for our community we don’t want no more jails we need a community and our kids and families matter. We don’t like jails it’s not good because more people going to jail and not learn so we need to build high standard for our community we are not learning nothing by getting locked up. We need our loved ones, we need to come together and stop the jail we need to be heard. No more jails, we want our community to be safe and loved. We need daycares, jobs, housing, parks, senior citizen housing, We don’t want no jail in a waste site. We need a clean community not a polluted community, we need to be heard."

"I think it is a bright idea to protest jails because there are things we need things that people could use that benefits them and their families. When you protest jails people stand and listen after a while but you have to be consistent. Basically, you have to be determined and continue protesting even if they are not listening eventually they will hear. See people in the city need things, like housing that’s very important. People could use extra clinics hospitals, food pantries, shelters, extra buildings, see people don’t need extra stadiums or jails not in this city. Some people may not find it interesting but if they only knew that it’s important to protest."

August 7, 2006
Statement By CR members Who Reside at La Casite Read at Town Hall Meeting on August 3, 2006

We, members of Critical Resistance NYC who reside at La Casita, a mother and child Alternative to Incarceration, and substance abuse program, oppose the construction of a new jail at Oak Point.

We believe it is being constructed to make a profit for the rich, not for the justifications that have been stated.

Through our experience, we know personally the negative impacts locking people up has on us, our communities and our families.

Rather than building a new jail to lock up more people, we need to lessen the number of people in jail.

Many people who would be put in the new jail would be doing time for drug-related charges and suffer from drug addiction.

It is our experience and belief that being locked up does not work for preventing and treating drug addiction.

Instead of a jail, we want to see things that will bring the community together, not close it down.

A new jail at Oak Point would cost about 395 million dollars! That’s a lot of money that could be spent on real harm prevention services and solutions that would make a positive impact on South Bronx communities.

We demand that the money which will be spent on a jail in the South Bronx, go to the public schools in the South Bronx, so our children of the South Bronx have a better chance of staying out of jail.

We demand more community centers, recreational centers, and gardens where kids and families can come together.

We demand affordable housing and healthy jobs for people coming back from jail and prison.

We demand that funding go to better public hospitals and walk-in clinics.

We demand better mental health provision services that truly heal people in our communities and take care of people with psychiatric disabilities.

We demand better forms of preventing harm in our communities such as counseling, and safe spaces where people can find support.

As members of the South Bronx who want to see our communities growing and coming together, we strongly oppose a new jail anywhere in New York City.

We are asking community members who question who we are, what are actions have been in the past, and what we say to please question with compassion and go beyond jails and punishment as being the answer to rehabilitation and community safety.

We as women who are greatly affected and the target of Horn’s proposal for a new jail, demand that our voice and input matter. We will not be silenced.