Mayor Adams Urges Passage of Restoring Mental Health Act
Mayor Adams is pushing for the passage of the Restoring Mental Health Act to address the city’s crisis of disturbed individuals roaming the streets and subways. He is urging the Legislature to pass the act before they adjourn next month, but Albany’s response has been lackluster.
The bill aims to put an end to the “EDP revolving door” by clarifying the standards for prolonged involuntary in-patient care for Emotionally Disturbed Persons. This is crucial as current laws often result in individuals like “Ice Pick Nick,” a violent mentally ill vagrant who terrorized the East Village for years, being repeatedly released after short periods of treatment.
Random attacks by individuals with a history of dangerous behavior have made walking the streets of New York City a nightmare. For instance, Cyril Destin, a deranged vagrant in Times Square, recently stabbed a tourist chaperoning a group of children as she walked by.
Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul need to rally support in the Legislature to prioritize this important measure. Allowing troubled individuals to roam free poses serious risks to themselves and others. It is imperative to provide inpatient mental-health facilities with adequate resources to handle these cases effectively. Passing the Restoring Mental Health Act will help prevent the cycling of mentally ill individuals in and out of jail and mental health facilities like Bellevue.
