MONTICELLO  – Despite repeated outreach and calls for action, Governor Kathy Hochul has refused to meet with representatives from Hope Alive 845 to discuss the Hope Alive Act, a critical legislative proposal aimed at enhancing child safety in New York State. This act would grant law enforcement and law enforcement-adjacent agencies access to school records to aid in the search for missing and exploited children. Additionally, Hope Alive 845 is calling for a comprehensive statewide review of New York’s Child Protective Services (CPS), which continues to fail underrepresented children across the state.

Domingo Ramos, founder of Hope Alive 845, expressed frustration over the Governor’s refusal to engage in discussions that could save lives.

“The crisis of missing and exploited children in New York is not an issue we can ignore, yet Governor Hochul refuses to sit down and discuss real solutions. The Hope Alive Act is designed to provide law enforcement with the necessary tools to locate children faster, and the Governor’s refusal to engage is a disservice to the very communities she claims to protect,” said Mr. Ramos.

Under the current system, bureaucratic red tape significantly delays investigations when children go missing. The Hope Alive Act seeks to cut through these barriers by allowing law enforcement timely access to school records, ensuring critical information is available in the earliest and most crucial hours of a child’s disappearance.

Additionally, the widespread failures of New York’s CPS system disproportionately affect underrepresented children, leaving them trapped in cycles of abuse, neglect, and systemic abandonment. Hope Alive 845 is calling for a statewide review of CPS policies and procedures to expose systemic failures and implement reforms that prioritize children’s safety and well-being.

“We see case after case where CPS fails to protect children from dangerous environments, yet there is no accountability. Without reform, we are sentencing these children to a future of suffering. The Governor’s silence on this issue is unacceptable,” added Mr. Ramos.

Hope Alive 845 is urging state lawmakers, advocates, and concerned citizens to demand action from Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature to ensure that child protection is a priority, not an afterthought.

For more information or to support the Hope Alive Act, please contact Hope Alive 845 at the 24 hour tip line at (845)-866-0442, email is hopealive845@gmail.com and website is HopeAlive845.com.