On Tuesday, former Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled an extensive plan aimed at addressing New York City’s mental health crisis. His proposals closely mirror some of the initiatives already championed by current mayor Eric Adams.
In an effort to distinguish his approach from Adams’s, Cuomo outlined more than a dozen strategies designed to assist individuals with severe mental illnesses on the streets, which include involuntary hospitalizations and an increase in psychiatric beds.
However, many of the significant aspects of Cuomo’s proposals bear remarkable resemblances to policies that Adams has already introduced during his time in office.
“Imitation is a sincere form of flattery,” remarked a source from the Adams administration after Cuomo’s plans emerged.
One of Cuomo’s primary goals is to address the presence of individuals who pose a danger to themselves on the streets.
In his plan, Cuomo committed to enhancing the implementation of Kendra’s Law. This would involve calling for “universal screening” when individuals are discharged from public hospitals or Rikers Island.
Adams has previously advocated for stronger state laws to enable longer commitments for those experiencing severe mental health issues.
Moreover, Cuomo is pushing for the addition of 100 to 200 new psychiatric beds within the city’s health system.
This proposal complements an initiative Adams previously mentioned about increasing inpatient beds by over 100, which he endorsed during a speech earlier this year.
Additionally, Cuomo has increased the target for supportive housing units from 500 to 1,600 annually. He has also shifted the promise of 900 “safe haven” beds from Adams to more permanent housing solutions for the homeless.
Cuomo emphasized the necessity of addressing homelessness more aggressively, pointing to a policy expansion initiated by the Adams administration nearly three years ago following troubling subway incidents.
