“The mayor’s plan is ill-advised as police officers do not have the expertise and empathy to appropriately respond to someone in crisis or in need of services. It is highly inappropriate to use police as a means to respond to people with mental health concerns. I wish the Mayor could put himself in someone else’s shoes. Someone who is struggling and attempting to survive may be seeking shelter in the subway. I want him to think about what type of response he would want to be met with. As someone who identifies as a peer—someone with lived mental health experience—I can say with certainty I would want to be met with someone who I can identify with. Instead of this inhumane directive, I urge the mayor to invest in a peer-led workforce, supportive housing, and other recovery-oriented services that will truly meet the needs of New Yorkers.”
Evelyn Graham-Nyaasi, Advocacy Specialist at Community Access