NYC Mayor Eric Adams does victory lap as new state rules make it easier to force mentally ill into treatment
Mayor Eric Adams lauded coming changes to state law that will make it easier to force mentally ill people into treatment — after he publicly pushed for the change for three years because of crime concerns.
The new involuntary commitment law, which is included in the state's budget, will allow officials to take people off the streets when they show a substantial risk of physical harm to themselves because of an 'inability or refusal, as a result of their mental illness, to provide for their own essential needs such as food, clothing, necessary medical care, personal safety, or shelter.'
Before the switch, people could only be involuntarily committed if they showed a substantial risk to physically harm themselves or others.
'Our advocacy has led to real progress,' Adams said during a victory-lap news conference at the Fulton Street subway station Thursday morning. 'We will know in Albany, it takes some time, several sessions, till we get to the full product, and we will continue to move forward on it.'
3 At a press conference, Adams called the state's new involuntary removal rules a 'huge shift' from the previous policy.
'Our clinicians have told us that the law was unclear on who they could transfer to hospitals for evaluation, which often resulted in quick discharge in times when people needed the help,' Adams said at the event.
Adams has used his bully pulpit to push for changes to involuntary commitment laws as far back as 2022, but hadn't been able to get the changes across the finish line in the last few sessions.
Brian Stettin, a senior advisor to the mayor and author of the law that allows for court-mandated mental health treatment, Kendra's Law, insisted Adams and his administration brought progressives around to support new rules for involuntary commitments.
3 A homeless person sits on the steps of the Times Square subway station in midtown Manhattan last month.
Stephen Yang
'Because of the advocacy that Mayor Adams has done to bring some common sense into the conversation, even progressive-minded people have come to recognize that the mayor's position is the moral position,' Stettin said.
'We must take care of those who are the most vulnerable, even when they don't realize they need it,' he added.
Stettin conceded that not all of the admin's proposals made it into the final language, but was happy with the progress.
Additionally, under the new law, someone could now be committed after sign-off from an examining physician and a nurse practitioner rather than the two physicians required by the previous law.
3 Two people showed up to Adams' press conference holding signs that silently criticized the state's new involuntary removal policy.
Paul Martinka
The practitioners would have three days after someone is brought to the hospital to decide whether he or she should be committed and reach out to the patient's doctor if they have one.
The final deal also included more requirements for psychiatric centers and local social services agencies to arrange discharge plans once someone is released from care.
Hizzoner appeared to start the festivities a bit earlier than most involved, after being spotted rubbing elbows with rapper Nems Wednesday night.
The Coney Island music maker posted an Instagram story showing himself and Adams at a hookah bar, blowing puffs of smoke into the air.
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11 hours ago
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Fighting for the Orthodox vote
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21 hours ago
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‘Disturbing': NYC lawmakers seek investigation into NYPD-ICE collaboration
Editor's note: The video above aired in a previous newscast. NEW YORK (PIX11) – New York City Council members are urging the Department of Investigations (DOI) to investigate whether the NYPD is sharing information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Speaker Adrienne Adams, Council Member Gale Brewer, and Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber have requested the DOI investigate the NYPD's alleged collaboration with federal authorities. They are concerned that civil immigration enforcement may violate local laws. More Local News 'In recent days, we've witnessed masked agents of the Trump administration detain people following the law targeting our neighbors,' Speaker Adams said in a video posted to her X account. 'This is not about public safety; it makes us less safe. Reports that NYPD collaboration and information shared with federal agencies are being used in civil immigration proceedings are disturbing.' Adams also pointed out that sharing information with ICE for immigration enforcement violates New York City law since New York is a sanctuary city: a sanctuary city limits or declines to cooperate with the federal government's immigration law enforcement. In a press conference on Monday, NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the force does not engage in civil immigration enforcement. In an email to PIX11 News, a spokesperson for the NYPD issued the following statement: 'The NYPD does not engage in civil immigration enforcement, period. As it has for many years, the NYPD works with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies on criminal investigations, including work on federal criminal task forces. That work is critical to getting dangerous individuals out of our communities, protecting our city from terrorism, and keeping our families safe.' Since January, the department has been under fire for working with ICE agents to 'go after criminals.' In May, the NYPD gave federal immigration authorities an internal record about a Palestinian woman arrested at a protest, now used by the Trump administration as evidence to deport her, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
