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Public Advocate critiques NYPD's involvement in non-policing matters
0:39:38
ยท
62 sec
Jumaane Williams addresses the 'defund the police' movement and argues against NYPD leading responses to homelessness and mental health crises.
- Clarifies that NYPD was never actually defunded, unlike many other agencies
- Criticizes NYPD's role in addressing homelessness and mental health issues
- Advocates for investing in non-police responses to mental health crises
- Suggests alternatives such as affordable community-based mental health services and subsidized housing
Jumaane Williams
0:39:38
And so I'm hoping to have a public safety discussion that goes outside of law enforcement so we have a better understanding of what public safety is and and with that, I'd also wanna mention that even throughout defund the movement, defund the police which admittedly I said then, now was not the best phrasing of what I think they were trying to do, NYPD was never defunded.
0:40:00
Many other agencies were and I don't know if we ever discussed the impact of those agencies being defunded.
0:40:06
I do think that NYPD should not be leading, in providing assistance and services to people experiencing homelessness or mental health crisis.
0:40:14
Having, NYPD lead, to move public perceived as being homeless or experiencing sickness and mental illness into hospital is not the best use of city resources.
0:40:24
The city instead must invest in non police responses to help in mental health crisis, affordable community based mental health services, subsidized housing, respite and drop incentives, things that dramatically decrease the likelihood of need for intervention in the subway in the first place.
0:40:38
PD can be available if necessary.