In response to today’s State of the State address, in which Governor Kathy Hochul doubled down on proposals to expand involuntary hospitalization of people with mental health complexities and proposed to fund an increased police presence in subways, Communities United for Police Reform issued the following statement on behalf of Loyda Colon (they/them), Executive Director of Justice Committee.
“Forcibly institutionalizing people with mental health complexities is violent, dangerous and only creates more harm for our communities and New Yorkers in need of care. These removals disproportionately impact communities of color – especially Black people – and do not address the root causes of why so many New Yorkers struggle with their mental health and cannot access healthcare services. Expanding involuntary removals further criminalizes people who are unhoused and those living with mental health complexities. Once again flooding more officers into the subways will only compound this. Instead, Governor Hochul should close gaps in mental health services, especially by increasing community-based mental health services with wrap-around care programs that have strong track records of engaging New Yorkers who are disconnected from services. New York needs community-based care and real social services, not criminalization of mental illness and poverty.”
About Communities United for Police Reform
Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) is an unprecedented campaign to end discriminatory policing practices in New York, and to build a lasting movement that promotes public safety and reduces reliance on policing. CPR runs coalitions of over 200 local, statewide and national organizations, bringing together a movement of community members, lawyers, researchers and activists to work for change. The partners in this campaign come from all 5 boroughs, from all walks of life and represent many of those most unfairly targeted by the NYPD.