Mayor Eric Adams firmly rejects Public Advocate Jumaane Williams’ proposal for a “mental health incident review panel” following a police shooting of a mentally ill man in Queens, declaring that more bureaucracy won’t solve New York’s mental health crisis.

At a Glance

• Williams proposed using a decade-old law to create review panels to examine systemic failures in cases like the recent fatal police shooting of a mentally ill man in Queens
• Mayor Adams strongly opposed the idea, arguing more bureaucracy won’t help and suggesting such proposals are why working-class voters feel abandoned by Democrats
• Adams advocates for expanded powers to involuntarily hospitalize mentally ill individuals deemed too ill to care for themselves
• The incident involved a man who was shot after lunging at officers with a knife, which NYPD officials defended as self-defense
• 93% of NYC teens use social media, with the city recently releasing a report linking social media use to higher rates of anxiety and depression

A Clash of Approaches to Mental Health Crisis

The debate between Mayor Eric Adams and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams over how to address mental health crises has intensified following a recent police shooting in Queens. Williams proposed implementing “mental health incident review panels” to examine systemic failures, while Adams firmly rejected adding what he sees as unnecessary bureaucratic layers.

The incident has reignited discussions about the city’s approach to handling encounters between police and individuals experiencing mental health emergencies, with both officials taking distinctly different positions on potential solutions.

“Plans like these are precisely what I, and so many others, mean when saying, ‘the party left working-class people,'” Adams stated, suggesting that Williams’ proposal exemplifies why many working-class voters feel alienated from Democratic policies.

“New Yorkers who ride the subway or walk our streets can plainly see and feel that the solution to the mental illness crisis isn’t more government bureaucracy,” Adams continued, emphasizing his belief that direct action rather than reviews should be prioritized.

Adams’ Controversial Approach to Mental Illness

Mayor Adams has previously announced plans to expand the city’s authority to involuntarily hospitalize individuals deemed too mentally ill to care for themselves. This controversial initiative would involve police officers and city workers removing individuals to hospitals if they appear to be a danger to themselves, even if they don’t present an immediate threat to others. The plan has positioned New York City at the center of a national debate on balancing individual rights with public health concerns when dealing with severe mental illness in public spaces.

“Homelessness is driven by the gap between rents and income and the lack of affordable housing, and mental health challenges for both housed and unhoused people are driven by the lack of enough community-based mental health services”, said Steven Banks.

Many experts in mental health, homelessness, and policing have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of Adams’ approach. They question whether involuntary hospitalization addresses the root causes of the crisis and worry about the expanded role of police officers in mental health situations.

Critics, including former social services commissioner Steven Banks, argue that addressing affordable housing shortages and expanding community-based mental health services would be more effective approaches to the complex problem.

Beyond Individual Incidents: Broader Mental Health Concerns

The administration has also focused on other aspects of mental health, particularly among young people. The city recently released a report on social media’s impact on mental health, revealing that 93% of NYC teens use social media platforms, with those users reporting significantly higher rates of anxiety.

The report recommends government restrictions on social media access for teens, noting that 78% of parents support such measures. This marks the first comprehensive report from a public health agency examining the relationship between social media use and mental health outcomes.

“New Yorkers with SMI [serious mental illness] are in dire need of treatment, yet often refuse it because they are too sick to know they need help”, said Mayor Eric Adams.

The Adams administration has launched multiple initiatives to address mental health issues, including TeenSpace, a tele-mental health service for teenagers, and plans to open mental health clinics in public schools.

Additionally, the city has filed lawsuits against social media companies and proposed regulations designed to protect youth mental health. However, the fundamental disagreement between Adams and Williams highlights the ongoing tension between focusing on systemic analysis versus immediate intervention in addressing New York City’s complex mental health challenges.