Mamdani wants 'transit ambassadors' — not NYPD — to get homeless people out of subways

[Suba]

"New York City's Mental Health Crisis: A Delicate Balance Between Safety and Compassion"

The Partnership Assistance for Transit Homelessness program (PATH) has been touted as a success in reducing the number of people with mental illness living on the streets, but its future hangs in the balance. The program, launched under Mayor Eric Adams, has seen over 600 homeless individuals removed from the subways since its inception last year.

At the heart of the PATH program is a delicate balance between safety and compassion. Outreach workers, like Richard Perkins, a behavioral nurse with 14 years of experience, work tirelessly to identify individuals in need of mental health assistance. They are aided by police officers who assess each person's risk level and bring them to hospitals for evaluation.

However, critics argue that the presence of NYPD officers undermines the efforts of outreach workers and violates individual rights. "The presence of a uniformed and armed police officer is going to be detrimental to the efforts of a trained outreach worker to build trust with that individual," said Dave Giffen, head of the Coalition for the Homeless.

Zohran Mamdani, the front-runner in the mayoral election, has pledged to replace NYPD officers with "transit ambassadors" who will provide assistance with emergencies, directions, accessibility, and other transit information to riders on the platform. However, his campaign's stance on homeless outreach is already drawing criticism from experts.

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, an independent candidate running for mayor, has proposed a more heavy-handed approach that would force homeless people out of the subways if they even loiter in stations. The Adams administration argues that softer approaches to homeless outreach were ineffective and allowed people to remain in the transit system while their mental health deteriorated.

As the debate over PATH continues, it's clear that addressing New York City's mental health crisis requires a nuanced approach that balances compassion with safety. "It definitely is a little bit troubling to me when I hear this false choice presented between having police in crisis response and having no police at all," said Brian Stettin, a key architect of the PATH program.

Ultimately, the future of PATH hangs in the balance, and it remains to be seen whether the city's next mayor will continue the program as is or make significant changes. One thing is certain: New York City's mental health crisis demands a thoughtful and comprehensive solution that prioritizes both safety and compassion.

 

[Turbo]

I'm low-key stressed about this whole PATH situation . I mean, you got these outreach workers trying to help people in need, but the cops are all like "nope, gotta go" . It's like, what's the point of having a program if we're just gonna push people away? And now there are these new candidates wanting to replace cops with transit ambassadors, but is that just gonna make things more confusing for regular riders? I'm all for compassion, but safety has gotta be a priority too . We can't just ignore the issue, but at the same time, we don't wanna scare people off from seeking help. It's like trying to find the perfect balance on your to-do list ...can we get it together, NYC?

 

[Impossibl]

I'm really worried about the homeless people in NYC . I don't think it's fair to say they're just loitering around the subway stations, they need help! The program PATH sounds like it's doing something good, but at the same time, I get why some people are saying that having police officers there might not be the best approach.

I mean, can you imagine if everyone was so scared of the police that they wouldn't even go to them for help? That would just make things worse, right? On the other hand, if we don't have any authority figures there, who's going to make sure people are safe?

I think we need a balance between safety and compassion. Maybe having some kind of support team that's not police officers, like transit ambassadors or something, would work better? I'm not sure what the answer is, but I know we need to keep trying until we get it right.

It's just so sad that people are struggling with mental health issues and don't have access to the help they need. We should be doing more to support them, not less .

 

[The Castle of]

I'm worried about what's gonna happen if they switch out NYPD officers for "transit ambassadors". Like, what if there's an actual emergency? Do we wanna risk people getting hurt 'cause some guy in a vest don't know what to do? I get that it's supposed to build trust with homeless people, but how are transit ambassadors gonna be trained for that kinda thing? The current setup might not be perfect, but at least the NYPD officers have some basic training and equipment. Can't we just tweak the program instead of throwing the whole thing out?

 

[Panicky Polecat]

I'm all for giving those homeless folks a helping hand , but how about we also try to address the root causes of their struggles? Like, what about affordable housing options or job training programs? It's easy to just focus on the symptoms (i.e. people being aggressive or disorderly) but it takes a village to really make a difference .

And can we talk about how the fact that our police officers are being used for this program is just so...awkward? Like, I get that they're trying to help, but there's gotta be a better way to do it without, you know, intimidating people with guns and badges . Maybe those transit ambassadors idea I heard about could work?

It's all about finding that balance between safety and compassion, but let's not forget that our homeless population needs actual support, not just temporary fixes .

 

[Joyous Ja]

man this is such a tough spot for the city... i feel for the outreach workers who are just trying to help people in need, but at the same time u gotta be able to keep ppl safe . it's like, how do u build trust w/ someone who's struggling w/ their mental health if they're also afraid of getting hurt by a cop? . i think zohran's idea about transit ambassadors could b a good starting point tho... maybe we can find a way to make it work where ppl feel safe & supported at the same time . anyway, gotta keep an eye on this one .

 

[Gran]

I mean, I get where they're coming from with PATH, it's good to see people getting helped on the streets, but can we really just swap out NYPD officers for "transit ambassadors" without thinking about what that means in practice? Like, who's gonna be responsible if something goes down? It feels like we're trying to solve a complex problem with some Band-Aid fixes. And don't even get me started on the whole "force homeless people out of the subways" idea... that just seems super misguided. Can't we find a way to support people without kicking them around?

 

[Spotless Shrew]

You know I've been volunteering with a local org that helps homeless folks in NYC, and it's crazy how some of these people are struggling so much. I get why we need to balance safety with compassion, but at the same time, I think we can find ways to do both without, like, locking people out of the subway . It's all about finding that middle ground, you know? These outreach workers and police officers are doing their thing, but maybe we can get some more community support too, like shelters or counseling services. And what if our next mayor looks into some alternative solutions, like those transit ambassadors? I'm intrigued by the idea of 'transit ambassadors' - they could be like a bridge between the public and the outreach workers, you feel me?

 

[Creepy]

I'm really worried about the PATH program ... I mean, on one hand, we need to keep our streets safe, but at the same time, we gotta make sure people with mental illness aren't getting left behind or stigmatized . The idea of replacing NYPD officers with "transit ambassadors" sounds like a good start, but only if they're properly trained and equipped to handle crisis situations .

I'm also not convinced by Cuomo's proposal to force homeless people out of the subways - that just seems too harsh and punitive . And I think we need to have more open conversations about what constitutes "loitering" in stations, because it's often not that easy for people to find help when they're struggling .

Ultimately, it's all about finding a balance between compassion and safety, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that whoever becomes the next mayor will prioritize that delicate balance .

 

[Uptight Unicorn]

I'm kinda worried about this PATH program. On one hand, it's awesome that they've already removed over 600 homeless people from the subways - that's some serious progress! But on the other hand, I think we need to be super careful not to push away the very people who need help the most. I mean, imagine if you're struggling with mental health issues and someone shows up in a uniform, looking all intimidating... it's just gonna make things worse, right?

I love the idea of transit ambassadors instead of NYPD officers, but at the same time, we need to make sure that these ambassadors are properly trained to handle crisis situations. It's not just about giving out maps and directions - we're talking about people who might be in a mental health crisis, for crying out loud!

I think the real problem here is that we're trying to solve this complex issue with a simple solution. We need to get experts from all different fields involved - social workers, psychologists, police officers... the whole nine yards! We can't just switch between "soft" and "hard" approaches without thinking through the consequences.

And what about the people who are already struggling? We can't just keep pushing them around and expect things to magically get better. I think we need a more holistic approach that addresses the root causes of homelessness and mental illness, rather than just treating the symptoms.