NEWS RELEASE

Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal

67th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, March 30, 2015

CONTACT: Lauren Schuster, 212.873.6368,

347.729.4729, schusterl@assembly.state.ny.us

ASSEMBLYMEMBER LINDA B. ROSENTHAL ANNOUNCES $6.48 MILLION IN NYS BUDGET

FOR RAPE CRISIS CENTERS
New York, NY Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan) today announced that the final FY 2015-16
New York State budget includes $6.48 million in critically needed funding for support services to survivors of sexual
assault as well for education and prevention by New Yorks 76 rape crisis programs. This funding represents an
increase of $3.6 million over last years budget appropriation of $2.88 million.
After six months of working closely with the Governors office and advocates, I am so gratified that this partnership
has resulted in a tremendous increase in funding for programs that are on the front lines in addressing rape and sexual
violence, said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal for whom this issue has been a top priority.
Sexual assault, both on and off college campuses, has reached near epidemic levels, said Assemblymember Linda
B. Rosenthal. The increased funding in the final budget recognizes the severity of the crisis and provides rape crisis
centers with the resources necessary to provide education, intervention and direct supportive services that match the
scope of the problem.
In New York State, nearly one in five women and one in 76 men has been raped at some point in their lives. Nearly
1.4 million women have been raped and 3.8 million have experienced sexual assault other than rape in New York
State alone.
New Yorks rape crisis centers are on the front lines in the battle to combat sexual violence, said Assemblymember
Linda B. Rosenthal. These centers are a critical lifeline to survivors of sexual assault and, with New Yorks move
toward a system-wide policy on sexual assault at all colleges and universities, rape crisis centers will play an
expanded role in sexual assault prevention and education. The additional funding will ensure that rape crisis centers
have the resources they need to protect New Yorks residents.
I am ecstatic that the Governor and the NYS State Legislature rallied to increase the funds to the rape crisis centers
in the 2015-16 budget, said Mary Haviland, Executive Director New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault.
The new funding of $4.6 million will help rape crisis centers maintain their 24/7, quality services to victims of
sexual assault and keep the promise that calling for help will result in healing process from this deeply destructive
form of violence. And it will help prevention programs that were slated to close March 31st continue their work to
ensure a future with less sexual assault. Furthermore, the Alliance is deeply grateful to Assemblymember Linda B.
Rosenthal for her leadership on this issue and for the hours that she spent working with leaders from the field to
address the funding challenges of this crucial network of services for survivors of sexual violence.
Ariel Zwang, CEO, Safe Horizon has this to say: Safe Horizon thanks the Governor, Assemblymember Linda B.
Rosenthal and all of her colleagues in the NYS legislature for providing critically-needed funding to help ensure an
immediate and compassionate response to survivors of rape and sexual assault. The NYS legislature should be
commended for prioritizing these essential services in the budget process."
I am grateful that legislators and the Governor recognized how badly sexual assault crisis intervention and
prevention resources were needed and took action to ensure victims and survivors could access 24/7 services
statewide, said Joanne Zannoni, Executive Director, New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
We want to applaud the Governor and the NYS Legislature for approving essential increases for sexual assault
intervention and prevention services in the final budget. Through this funding, the Legislature is ensuring the

DISTRICT OFFICE 230 West 72nd Street, Suite 2F, New York, NY 10023 TEL (212) 873-6368 FAX (212) 873-6520
ALBANY OFFICE 741 Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248 TEL (518) 455-5802 FAX (518) 455-5015

NEWS RELEASE

continuation of critical services and prevention work across the State, Randi K. Bregman, LMSW, Executive
Director, Vera House, Inc.

Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal

A true commitment to addressing sexual

assault on and off campus means investing real dollars in services and
th
67
ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT
NEW YORK
STATE
ASSEMBLY
prevention efforts, said Sonia Ossorio, president of
NOW NY.Instead
of slashing
funding
for rape crisis
FOR
IMMEDIATE
RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Lauren
Schuster,
programs across the state, the Governor and lawmakers did the right thing by deciding to increase 212.873.6368,
funding and show
Monday, March 30, 2015
347.729.4729, schusterl@assembly.state.ny.us
that New York is serious about addressing sexual assault and its prevention.
According to the United States Department of Justice, 65% of all sexual assault cases are unreported. Despite this,
rape crisis programs have seen a sharp increase in the number of new clients between 2011 and 2013. Rape crisis
centers provide critical services to address this growing need in New York State. Rape crisis centers create and
present educational curricula to middle and high school students, help educate and mobilize whole communities of
sexual assault and rape and lead intervention efforts among boys and young men. In addition to education and
prevention, rape crisis centers also provide direct services to survivors of sexual assault, including providing crisis
counseling, and advocacy and support to survivors in emergency rooms and police stations.
Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal is Chair of the Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Committee and represents the
67th Assembly district, which includes the Upper West Side and parts of the Clinton/ Hells Kitchen neighborhoods in
Manhattan.
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DISTRICT OFFICE 230 West 72nd Street, Suite 2F, New York, NY 10023 TEL (212) 873-6368 FAX (212) 873-6520
ALBANY OFFICE 741 Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248 TEL (518) 455-5802 FAX (518) 455-5015