Hochul unveils vague plan to tackle NYC mental health crisis as subway violence plagues city

Gov.Kathy Hochul pledged Friday to stop the runaway train of subway violence by making it easier to involuntarily commit and treat dangerous mentally ill New Yorkers — but critics quickly blasted her largely detail-free plan as too little, too late.In a vaguely worded statement, Hochul said she’ll introduce legislation in New York’s upcoming budget to “finally change New York’s involuntary commitment standards.” “Currently hospitals are able to commit individuals whose mental illness puts themselves or others at risk of serious harm, and this legislation will expand that definition to ensure more people receive the care they need,” she said.The governor also said she would introduce a separate bill to change Kendra’s Law, “improving the process through which a court can order certain individuals to participate in Assisted Outpatient Treatment while also making it easier for individuals to voluntarily sign up for this treatment.”The governor didn’t specify whether she’d be supporting existing bills or unveiling newly-crafted legislation.

A spokesperson for Hochul said the specifics will be released when she unveils her executive budget proposal on Jan.21.“This has been rejected by the legislature in the past,” Hochul said in an unrelated news conference.

“It is my sincere hope that everyone in the legislature is paying attention to what is unfolding in our city and in our state, and that we need to ensure that those who are suffering from severe mental illness are getting the care they need.“I’m taking it on again.I expect to be successful.”Hochul’s hazy plan in response to the recent wave of subway attacks — including a horrific incident in which a sleeping woman was burned to death, allegedly by an illegal immigrant, and a straphanger shoved in front of a 1 train — drew confusion, if not outright hostility.City Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens) ripped Hochul for failing to properly use Kendra’s Law, implying it —...