You know that the threat of the homeless mentally ill haunting our streets and subways has become serious, with even Mayor Eric Adams’ left-wing challengers paying lip service to taking it seriously.
Like Adams, they all want to expand mental health outreach teams and provide supportive housing and so on for those who can be taken off the streets, but some even agree on the need to force them under treatment.
City Comptroller Brad Lander is now calling for reform of the rules surrounding involuntary commitment, such as by having nurses make these evaluations just like doctors.
Scott Stringer, a former comptroller, would also remove people who pose a danger to themselves or others, but did not provide details.
On the other hand, Queen’s progressive secretary of state, Jessica Ramos, wants to fix the mess through “fairness and transformative change,” including a “holistic” approach that achieves “harmony” through a host of sensitive programs.
And Brooklyn Sen. Zellnor Myrie blames the Adams administration for letting homeless mentally ill people fall through the cracks in city services.
Myrie used the memorial service for homeless F-train burning victim Debrina Kawam to accuse the city of failing her — while failing to mention his. opposition to forced removals for psychiatric reasons.
No wonder polls suggest that ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo would beat them all if he entered the race: He plays tough guy so well that voters surely think he would break with progressives’ delusions: “We must respect the rights of the homeless.”
Again, Cuomo as governor did nothing on this front — and effectively reduced the number of psychiatric beds in the state and city, the very beds needed to treat street people with serious mental illness, should New York law change to allow large involuntary commitments.
So far, Adams is the only Democratic candidate with a clear, long-standing track record of wanting to get these people treated even when they don’t want to.
He hasn’t had any luck getting the Legislature to do it, but that still puts him head and shoulders above the progressive pack.
