Mamdani’s Community Safety Proposal Faces Scrutiny
Mayor-elect Zoram Mamdani has proposed a plan to replace police responses to 911 calls with social workers. However, this approach has already seen a rocky implementation in New York City, specifically through the B-HEARD program, which hasn’t produced encouraging results.
B-HEARD started in 2021 as a pilot project operating in select urban areas, but reports indicate significant challenges. An audit released by the city’s inspector general revealed that about 60% of calls were considered ineligible, while over 35% of applicable calls from mental health professionals went unanswered.
The inspector general noted that many calls were classified as potentially dangerous or could not be triaged properly because of complications with the FDNY Emergency Medical Services, which either didn’t receive the calls or were unable to gather crucial information.
From fiscal years 2022 to 2024, B-HEARD received nearly 100,000 calls, with the team—comprising two FDNY staff, an EMT, and a social worker—responding to only about 25% of them.
Mamdani, who identifies as a socialist, is contemplating a substantial expansion of B-HEARD from its current 18 teams, aiming for a 150% increase in funding. This expansion would ideally place a response team in each neighborhood, particularly bolstering high-need areas.
His broader vision includes integrating B-HEARD into a newly created Department of Community Safety (DCS), which his campaign promotes as addressing critical gaps in existing programs. The mission outlines a public health approach focused on preventing violence before it occurs.
The B-HEARD program currently serves parts of the Bronx, Upper Manhattan, central Brooklyn, and northwestern Queens. Experts suggest that scaling DCS across the city would demand substantial staffing and resources.
Overall, the project anticipates leveraging $605 million from existing programs like B-HEARD and aims to secure an additional $455 million in new funding.
However, Mamdani’s strategy is facing resistance from law enforcement and critics who argue that it could jeopardize both callers and responders. The mixed outcomes of B-HEARD raise concerns about the feasibility of expanding DCS.
Richard Aborn, chairman of the New York City Citizens Crime Commission, emphasized the importance of execution in program implementation. He stated that a program’s failure to reach people may not imply a total failure—it often hinges on resource allocation. Yet, he pointed out pressing questions about the appropriateness of sending mental health professionals instead of police to certain emergency situations.
Political strategist Hank Sheinkopf expressed skepticism towards establishing yet another governmental agency. He stressed, “Domestic dispute calls can turn violent—does that not warrant police involvement?”
Bill Cunningham, a political veteran who worked under Mayor Bloomberg, pointed out the need for better governance. He remarked that acknowledging and addressing existing challenges would yield better results than pushing for new initiatives. “The focus should really be on effective service delivery. If we don’t address these operational issues, everything else becomes superficial,” he added.
