Assemblyman William Colton (D – Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, and Dyker Heights) says that mentally ill homeless people should receive appropriate treatment to prevent them from committing violent crimes. They cannot be placed into homeless shelters without any mental health services. They must be supervised by social workers and health professionals. 

“A homeless man with a history of violence was charged Sunday with horrific stabbings on the A train line which left two people dead and two others wounded. My question is why was this person still out on the streets and the subways? Why was he placed at the Brooklyn homeless shelter at 279 Butler Street and why is the city continuing to fund more of these homeless shelters? Judges and DA’s must not let persons with a history of violence out. We must lock up those who commit crimes of violence and provide mental health services to those who need it before they commit such crimes requiring them to be imprisoned,” Colton stated.

“Yes, we need another 1000 police officers on the subways to restore the number present back in 1995. The city must place more mental health workers on both the streets and the subways reaching out to such persons in need of mental health help. We must use Kendra’s Law to involuntarily treat such dangerous persons before they go on violent sprees. There are too much talk and too little action!” Colton added.