Our mental health system is struggling and barely hanging on. It has endured years of inadequate funding and has been influenced by politics more than solid evidence. As leaders of the Senate and Assembly Committees on Mental Health, we understand what is effective — and we see only one candidate for New York City mayor offering a clear, successful plan: Zohran Mamdani.
New Yorkers require better access to permanent supportive housing, offering lasting stability and dignity. Peer-led initiatives such as community clubhouses deliver vital support that helps prevent crises from occurring. When crises do arise, they should be addressed by trained mental health specialists rather than law enforcement.
Years of insufficient investment have resulted in a shortfall of hospital beds and numerous clinics barely surviving on minimal budgets. In 2019, Medicaid cuts by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo further compounded the issue. Despite recent state funding beginning to mend some of this damage, a substantial gap still exists.
When preventative care and treatment options are lacking, the repercussions become visible on our streets and public transportation. Those dealing with untreated mental health issues are often exposed and at risk, sometimes causing others to feel uneasy — despite being more likely to fall victim to crime rather than commit it. Furthermore, when untrained first responders intervene, situations may worsen rather than improve.
Mamdani’s strategy acknowledges this situation and proposes solutions. His plan for a Department of Community Safety involves allocating $362.8 million to mental health services and prioritizing peer-led, community-focused programs that enhance results. His proposed changes to the city’s existing B-HEARD program would ensure crisis calls are handled by health experts, not law enforcement.
Currently, police officers are frequently assigned to handle mental health calls — one reason response times for other emergencies have risen significantly in recent years, now averaging close to 16 minutes. Mamdani’s plan assists those in need while also allowing police to concentrate on more pressing public safety issues.
This vision aligns closely with our own legislative work to pass Daniel’s Law (S3670 / A4617) and create a statewide mental health crisis response system. Treating mental health and substance use crises as public health issues is both humane and effective. Crisis teams — composed of social workers, counselors, medical staff, and peers — provide the care people need in their most vulnerable moments.
New York State has already made significant investment in this effort through the work of the Daniel’s Law Task Force, established in 2023. After a year of research, community input, and analysis of successful models across the country, the Task Force’s findings were clear: health-led crisis response saves lives, reduces arrests, and builds trust in our public systems.
Mamdani’s mental health plan puts these principles into action. His commitment to expanding non-police crisis teams, investing in supportive housing, and strengthening community-based services directly reflects the Task Force’s recommendations. It also aligns with our shared commitment to passing statewide legislation to deliver a compassionate, coordinated, and evidence-based approach to mental health care.
His plan also underscores the power of supportive housing. The “Housing First” model, which helped New York City virtually eliminate veteran homelessness, is the gold standard for addressing both homelessness and mental illness. Stable housing is the foundation for recovery and community stability.
Equally important are community clubhouses, which provide restorative environments where people can find support with employment, education, and relationships. These services strengthen individuals and communities while reducing the strain on law enforcement and hospitals.
At Fountain House, the city’s largest peer clubhouse, participants were up to 45% less likely to end up in the ER or hospital, Medicaid costs were 21% lower than comparable cases, and members were 56% less lonely and reported 50% greater employment rates. It costs approximately $4,000 to provide services for each member annually. By contrast, that’s roughly the same amount it costs for just a two day hospital stay for people experiencing a mental health crisis, or only three days on Rikers Island.
Mamdani’s bold, refreshing, evidence-based approaches invite New Yorkers to envision more 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 City a path toward safety and dignity for all. That is why we proudly endorse him for mayor.
Brouk is a state senator from Rochester and Simon is an Assembly member from Brooklyn. They chair the Senate and Assembly committees on Mental Health.
