PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Victor Herrera, Leader-Member of Freedom Agenda, on Mental Health Crisis Response
4:53:43
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126 sec
Victor Herrera, a leader-member of Freedom Agenda and mental health advocate, testifies about the need for improved mental health crisis response in NYC. He criticizes the current system, particularly the involvement of NYPD, and calls for better resources and treatment for at-risk communities.
- Urges revision of NYPD patrol guide language and an end to the criminalization of people experiencing emotional crises
- Shares personal experience with misconduct by DHS police, NYPD, and Health And Hospital Corporation
- Advocates for more funding and resources for mental health services, especially for at-risk and homeless communities
- Criticizes current police responses to mental health crises, calling for better de-escalation training and non-violent approaches
Victor Herrera
4:53:43
Good afternoon, madam chair in committee.
4:53:46
My name is Victor Herrera, leader, and member of Freedom Agenda.
4:53:49
Close wipers, former jailhouse lawyer, mental health advocate, and a student lawyer for sensible policies, DBA Gas Solutions.
4:53:57
In almost every home, I'm quite positive that there's a concern related to a person experiencing emotional crisis or trauma.
4:54:02
However, those of us that have no home are returning citizens, are the target of structuring racism, don't have such luxury as access to the resource necessary necessary to be appropriately treated.
4:54:12
I urge the city council to revise the NYPD patrol guide language.
4:54:16
Demand at NYPD and NYC Department of Health, I meant to hide you to end the stigma of criminalization of people experiencing motion crisis.
4:54:24
My own experience of being the subject to the patrol guy for illegitimate purposes is to cover up misconduct by 2 agencies.
4:54:30
DHS police and NYPD and the Health And Hospital Corporation responds to NYPD practices that resulted in harm to my mental health is the reason I survived post traumatic address this order today.
4:54:41
Today, people who have no resources are treated with dangerous consequences, injury or death, no to EDP, no to NYPD, first responders, or co responders.
4:54:51
Yes, desperately, and be hurt, and finding a mental health resources.
4:54:54
What I have learned as a client of CMCS IMT is coping skills that many in the community are deprived of an account of no funding sources.
4:55:03
DO HMH and the city must do more for the at risk community and address epidemic as a serious public health concern.
4:55:09
We've had too many police responding with no de escalation skills or training.
4:55:12
Hence, the subway shooting cannot be exempt as it was clear that individual was experiencing a crisis when he actually also don't shoot him.
4:55:20
The fact that these kinds of concerns are ignored raised ignored raises serious questions, whether it's liberate or negligent in the city doing more for the at risk community members who deserve treatment now bullets.
4:55:30
Innocent bystanders being in the path of what is clear in radical responses to people experiencing emotional crisis.
4:55:36
Yelling out or threatening a person experiencing an emotional crisis is not the escalation.
4:55:40
More provocation, and deliberate to create the idea of the NYPD patrol guy definition or threat to themselves or others to justify lethal force.
4:55:49
Thank you.
