Leaders of the New York City Council and supporters of mental health gathered on the steps of City Hall on Monday to commemorate a $50 million investment in public safety and mental health. They also urged Mayor Eric Adams to act quickly to put the programs into place and close Rikers Island.
Speaker Adams Presses Mayor to Accelerate Jail Reforms and Service Expansion
By increasing access to mental health care and support services throughout the city, the funds, which are part of the recently approved fiscal year 2026 budget, are meant to address the underlying causes of crime and lower incarceration rates.
“The council is proud to have secured over $50 million in meaningful investments into mental health care programs and essential safety solutions in this year’s city budget that our communities have long needed,” said Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “These investments are critical to our goals of improving mental health issues in our city, safely reducing the inflated jail population, and, ultimately, closing Rikers for good.”
Calls to Shut Rikers Grow Louder
Rikers Island has long been a symbol of systemic failure, with nine inmate deaths reported so far in 2025 and a federal judge ruling in May to place the facility under receivership due to “ongoing violations of constitutional rights.”
Two more deaths in June, just 78 minutes apart, have renewed scrutiny of the jail’s conditions. City Council members say Rikers has essentially become a mental health institution by default, with over half the population diagnosed with a mental illness.
“For too long, the city’s failure to effectively address the mental health crisis and resistance to advancing proven solutions has allowed Rikers to become a de facto mental health facility,” said Speaker Adams. “The mayoral administration must take immediate action.”
Mental Health Programs Seen as Key to Jail Reform
The budget includes funding for crisis response teams, mental health drop-in centers, and anti-recidivism programs aimed at diverting individuals from the criminal justice system into care.
“True rehabilitation requires equipping our city with the tools to deliver life-saving care, reduce recidivism, and expand supportive housing for those most in need,” said Council Member Linda Lee, Chair of the Mental Health Committee.
Mayor Adams’ office defended the administration’s record, calling the budget the “Best Budget Ever,” and pointing to broad investments in shelters, substance use treatment, psychiatric care, and youth violence prevention.
Still, City Council members insist the clock is ticking and action must follow funding.
Leave a Reply