By Melissa Aase, CEO of University Settlement

Jordan Neely was failed by our systems throughout his life, and after it.

We are disappointed, frustrated, and saddened by yesterday’s verdict, which will not make our communities safer, nor address the root causes at play.

We have an ongoing mental health crisis, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic. And our systems are failing Black, brown, poor, and/or unhoused people who are going through mental health crises, due to a toxic mixture of bias and stigma. Racism and stigma continue to fuel discomfort and trigger harmful reactions and narratives, including the dehumanization of our neighbors and criminalization of mental health.

Only a percentage of people in NYC who need support receive it, and experiencing a mental health symptom or an emotion in public is not a crime.

NYC needs to invest in building more effective mental health solutions to ensure that people like Jordan Neely are able to access the help they need, and receive the dignity they deserve.

And we also need to reframe the conversation around public safety with regard to mental health. Data shows that people with serious mental health challenges are significantly more likely to be the victims of violent crime, rather than perpetrators.

The true public safety issue is that we are not effectively supporting the people who need access to resources the most. In this moment of mourning and outcry, it’s important we turn our concern and vigilance toward the systemic cycles keeping our communities unwell.