Governor Cuomo Plans to Remove Mentally Ill People from Rikers Within First 30 Days of Administration
During Remarks at Sunday’s Metro IAF Gathering, Cuomo Provided His Plan to Address the Ongoing Crisis at Rikers Island
“At yesterday’s METRO IAF gathering in Brooklyn, I noted that Rikers Island is an added insult to the injury already inflicted upon those suffering with mental health issues.
“As Mayor, I will begin having the significantly mentally ill removed from Rikers within 30 days and placed in community group homes and supportive housing with appropriate mental health facilities, provided that they are not a danger to others or have not been accused of a violent offense. This will generate tremendous savings as supportive housing beds, on average, cost approximately $24,000 per year.
“It costs New York taxpayers $500,000 per year, per person incarcerated at Rikers; whereas it costs $115,000 per year, per person at a state prison for far more dangerous individuals. This is an absurd disgrace and abuse of taxpayers.
“Also within the first 30 days as Mayor, I will have all homeless individuals removed from the subway trains and stations every night – as was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. These efforts worked extraordinarily well and reinstituting these measures will give us a chance to assess the homeless and determine the actual needs.
“The New York City subway system is not a sustainable living arrangement. We know what works because we have successfully done it before. We will do it again.”
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