URGE SENATOR MCDONALD TO RESIST PASSAGE OF KENDRA’S LAW EXPANSION/PERMANENCE!
Over the years, NYC tabloids have capitalized on rare, violent tragedies involving people with psychiatric diagnoses and NYC policemen with sensationalized stories filled with defamatory language about ‘dangerous wackos’, ‘violent deranged’ and ‘we never should have let them out of the hospitals.’
These are terrible tragedies that demand strong and smart action including improved outreach services and specialized trained police CIT units, not more defamatory language and calls for more forced treatment, as has been called for in the Daily News.
But advocates to expand and make permanent Kendra’s Law have capitalized on these tragedies to push newly introduced legislation by Senator Young and Assemblywoman Gunther. This proposal represents a large unfunded mandate to localities and a further violation of people’s rights, and it is in sharp contrast to the Governor’s proposals to shore up system cracks and improve service outreach and support in his Behavioral Health Organization and Health Home initiatives.
Yet, our long time friend Senate Mental Health Committee Chairman Roy McDonald appears to be supporting a newly revised version of this twice-rejected proposal (S4881-A Young) and needs to hear from our community about the degree of opposition that there is to this measure!
Please call Senator McDonald’s office Monday at 518-455-2381 and leave the following message:
“I’m a registered voter from (your locality) calling to urge Senator McDonald
to resist passage of proposals to expand or make Kendra’s Law permanent and
to instead give his support to true system reforms”