Hochul proposes mental health law to curb violent NYC subway crime

CHELSEA, Manhattan (PIX11) – Following a series of violent subway crimes allegedly committed by individuals with mental health issues, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed new legislation to improve access to mental health assistance.

 It's sparking controversy and debate, but the governor says the recent rise in severe subway crimes underscores the need for the action she's proposing. 

MTA and NYPD statistics show that while crime on public transit is down 5.4 % overall between 2023 and 2024, murders in the subway system have doubled. They've gone from five in 2023 to 10 in 204. That 100 % jump is behind the governor's call to action. 

There have also been many other types of violent crimes in the public transit system recently that are adding to Gov. Hochul's effort. 

This past Tuesday, subway rider Joseph Lynskey was pushed in front of an incoming train on the No. 1 train from the downtown platform at 18th Street. 

The alleged attacker, Kamel Hawkins, 23, was described by family members as having mental health challenges. A similar description has been made for Sebastian Zapeta, 33, who's accused of fatally setting a woman on fire on the subway two weeks ago. 

There have also been three stabbings -- one of them fatal -- in the past two weeks in the subway system. 

The combination of crimes have Governor Kathy Hochul saying that she's taking action. 

"People are anxious. I understand this," she said during a press conference on Friday morning. "What else is needed?" she continued, "we need to change the laws, and we need to do it soon." 

Hochul said that she'll push to expand laws that provide court-ordered outpatient treatment for people deemed to be in need of mental health services. 

On the 18th Street platform where the subway push happened, leaving Joseph Lenskey with a fractured skull, broken ribs, and a ruptured spleen, reactions from some riders showed some of the challenges to the governor's proposal.

"It sounds like a really gray area, right?" said Brayan Angulo, who'd just stepped off of the No. 1 train. He said that while he supports ensuring that mental health services are provided to people in need, determining who that is can be difficult. "Somebody could be really stressed out, or maybe they handle their emotions a lot differently than most," he said. 

He was not alone in saying that it's a very nuanced issue. The chief enforcer of the law in Manhattan is also saying so.

In an interview, District Attorney Alvin Bragg said that he can't carry out the program alone. 

"We are partnering with parts of city government -- health, homeless services,  agencies that are on the front line of the equation," he said, "working with them." 

Some other subway passengers who spoke with PIX11 News agreed that it takes more than removing people who may have mental health issues from the subway.

"Homelessness," said subway rider Lynette McMurray, "I think that should addressed because why are people so tired, why are they so crazy, why are people so fed up?"

Miguel Medina, a director of programs at Morris Heights Health Center in the Bronx, said exploring answers to such questions requires more than involuntarily committing people in need. 

"I'm very concerned about that," Medina said in an interview. "Removing them from the street doesn't say that they're getting services."

However, Gov. Hochul said that the whole point of her introducing legislation is to provide services. She has made similar proposals in each of the past three years that she's been in office, but the legislature hasn't passed them into law. 

This time, the governor said she intends to include the legislation as part of her executive budget. She's scheduled to provide more details in her State of the State address on January 14.