Our mental health system is stretched to breaking point. For too long it has been underfunded and shaped by politics rather than facts. As Chairs of the Senate and Assembly Mental Health Committees, we know what works and see only one candidate for New York City Mayor with a clear and effective plan: Zoran Mamdani.
New Yorkers need greater access to permanent supportive housing that provides long-term stability and dignity. Peer-led programs such as social clubs offer important connections that prevent crises before they happen. And when crises do occur, they should be handled by trained mental health professionals, not law enforcement.
Decades of disinvestment have left us with too few hospital beds and too many clinics struggling to cope with tight budgets. Medicaid cuts in 2019 by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo only made matters worse. Although recent public investment is beginning to offset this damage, the gap remains huge.
When prevention and treatment are not available, the consequences spill over into our streets and subways. People suffering from untreated mental illness are too often left in the public eye and vulnerable, which sometimes makes others feel unsafe, although they are much larger most likely to become victims of crime than criminals. And when first responders intervene without proper training, situations can escalate rather than resolve.
Mamdani's plan acknowledges this reality and offers solutions. His proposal for Department Public Safety would direct $362.8 million to mental health services and prioritize community-based, peer-led programs that improve outcomes. His reform of the city's existing B-HEARD program will ensure that crisis calls are answered by medical professionals rather than police.
Right now, cops are having to respond to mental health calls too often—one reason that response times for other incidents have increased significantly over the past few years, now averaging closer to 16 minutes. Mamdani's approach helps people in need while allowing officers to focus on pressing public safety issues.
This vision is closely aligned with our own legislative work to enact Daniel's LawS3670 / A4617) and create a statewide mental health crisis response system. Treating mental health and substance use crises as public health issues is a humane and effective approach. Crisis teams, made up of social workers, counselors, medical personnel and peers, provide people with the help they need in their most vulnerable moments.
New York State has already invested heavily in these efforts through the work of Daniel's Law Working Group, created in 2023. After a year of research, public input, and analysis of successful models across the country, the Task Force's findings were clear: public health-based responses to crises save lives, reduce arrests, and build trust in our government systems.
The Mamdani Mental Health Plan puts these principles into practice. His commitment to expanding non-police crisis teams, investing in supportive housing, and strengthening community services directly reflects the Task Force's recommendations. It is also consistent with our overall commitment to enacting state-level legislation that provides a compassionate, coordinated, and evidence-based approach to mental health care.
His plan also highlights the power of supportive housing. The Housing First model, which has helped New York City virtually eliminate homelessness among veterans, is the gold standard for addressing both homelessness and mental illness. Stable housing is the foundation for community recovery and stability.
Equally important are community clubs that provide restorative environments where people can find support in employment, education and relationships. These services strengthen individuals and communities while reducing the burden on law enforcement and hospitals.
IN Fountain Houselargest peer club in the city, its members were 45% less likely to end up in the emergency room or hospital, Medicaid costs were 21% lower than comparable cases, and members were 56% less lonely and reported higher levels of employment. It costs approximately $4,000 to provide services to each participant annually. Instead, it's about the same as the cost of a two-day hospital stay for people experiencing a mental health crisis, or just three days on Rikers Island.
Mamdani's bold, fresh and evidence-based approaches encourage New Yorkers to dream bigger for their city. More resources, more support and a more effective approach to public safety.
His vision reflects both compassion and common sense. By investing in housing, crisis response, and community-based care, he offers New York a path to safety and dignity for all. That's why we're proud to support him for mayor.
Brooke is a state senator from Rochester. And Simon is an Assemblymember from Brooklyn.. They chair the Senate and Assembly mental health committees.
