URGE SENATOR MCDONALD TO RESIST PASSAGE OF KENDRA’S LAWEXPANSION/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 TODAY 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”