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Published on January 03, 2025
New York City Mayor Eric Adams Commends Governor Hochul's Mental Health Legislation ProposalSource: Wikipedia/UK Government, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Mayor Eric Adams has come forward to praise Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement of proposed legislation aimed at overhauling New York's involuntary commitment standards. In a statement, Adams addressed the move as a much-needed step toward providing life-saving psychiatric care to individuals suffering from severe mental illness, especially those who do not recognize their need for help.

Referencing recent incidents underlining the consequences of untreated mental health issues, Adams noted behind the aggressive expansion of specialized shelters and restoration of psychiatric beds, progress has been limited without changes in the law. According to the Mayor's statement, his administration has been proactive, doubling outreach staffing at the Department of Homeless Services, and rallying to increase support via programs such as SCOUT and PATH. However, without passing this legislation, their hands are tied on more decisive actions.

In his message, Mayor Adams reminded New Yorkers of what is at stake, implying that moral responsibility extends beyond passive concern. He emphasized on the Mayor's Office official website, "There is no dignity in withering away on the streets without the ability to help yourself, and there is no moral superiority in just walking by those individuals and doing nothing," mirroring our city's collective cry to rethink what help means within the limits of the current legal framework.