Queens council members call for expanded mental health services to ensure public safety

holdenariola-1200×675-1

Queens council members Robert Holden and Joann Ariola are urging the city and state to expand and utilize Kendra’s Law, which provides patient care for people with mental illness who are unable to safely live in a community without supervision.

The two council members announced their support for state and city leaders to expand this legislation after a meeting with the Commission on Public Safety and Commission on Civil and Human Rights earlier this month. Representatives from the NYPD revealed during that meeting that 47% of those arrested for hate crimes this year had been deemed an “emotionally disturbed person” (EDP).