REPORT: Jordan Neely Known to City of New York, was on ‘Top 50’ List of At-Risk Homeless People
On May 1, homeless New Yorker Jordan Neely was acting erratic on a subway by threatening and attacking passengers. In response to this, former marine Daniel Penny restrained Neely by placing him in a chokehold that eventually turned fatal.
Now, The New York Times is reporting that Jordan Neely was on a New York City Task Force’s ‘Top 50’ list of at-risk homeless people.
New York’s Coordinated Behavioral Health Task Force was implemented to monitor the “most entrenched and chronic patients” in the city. Their top 50 list includes individuals who cause the most trouble in public areas such as streets and public transportation. Neely, who has a long history of criminal charges, was on this list.
“The workers in Coney Island learned only the next day that the person they had met was a man on the Top 50 list, case notes show. A note later filed by an outreach worker about the encounter reads prophetically: ‘Due to client’s aggressive behavior, he could be a harm to others or himself if left untreated and not assessed by a mental health professional.’
Under a directive issued by Mr. Adams last fall, people who are in such a severe state of psychological crisis that they are a danger to themselves or to others are supposed to be taken to a hospital for evaluation, involuntarily if necessary.“
New York Times
Prior to his death, Neely had over 40 prior arrests including public indecency and assault. In February, Neely was arrested after assaulting an elder woman and breaking the bones in her face. After being charged with assault for this act of violence, Neely struck a plea deal that required him to stay in a residential treatment program. But after being at the facility where this program was taking place for just two weeks, Neely violated his plea deal and left.
The fact that Neely was able to roam the streets despite being on a city watchlist and having a long history of arrests is inexcusable. This is yet another example of government officials stating “he was on our radar” after a crime was committed. Time after time again, big cities like New York City refuse to take preventive measures to stop violent crime from happening.
The viral interaction between Neely and Penny is indicative of two major issues facing America’s big cities. The first is that there is a mental health crisis escalating in our country’s culture. A large portion of violent crime is carried out by individuals with severe health issues. It’s not a coincidence that homelessness and stories of erratic public behavior have significantly increased since the United States has decreased institutionalization rates.
Society has an obligation to separate the mentally unstable from the rest of the general public. People like Neely, who are proven to be mentally unfit for day-to-day interactions in public, should be removed from society so that they can get the medical treatment they need. This is required not only for the safety and well-being of society, but for the individual in question. It is a compassionate and effective strategy to keeping our cities safe and fighting the mental health crisis our country is facing.
The second issue that both Neely and Penny’s fate addresses is the lack of law enforcement in liberally-ran American cities. For the last three years, liberal politicians have characterized police officers as racist, oppressive, and evil. These politicians have taken steps to reduce the ability of officers to effectively enforce the law. Because of this, violent crime continues to surge.
New York City has refused to properly police its streets effectively. And yet, when individuals like Penny take matters into their own hands, they are condemned. Penny was in a situation that required him to defend himself and the people around him. Instead of being applauded for his efforts, he is now facing a second-degree manslaughter charge from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
As is all too common in today’s political landscape, New York City leaders are attempting to make Neely’s death a racial issue. Since Penny killed a black man, the media has created the narrative that this was another “modern-day lynching” as they claimed when George Floyd died.
The show trial of former Marine Daniel Penny has caused many to donate money for an effective legal team. A fundraiser through GiveSendGo has currently raised over $2 million for Penny’s legal defense. Still, it is unclear whether or not Penny will be put in prison for his heroic actions.
New York City’s refusal to protect its residents or let its citizens defend themselves has proven the obvious: if you are a conservative who lives in New York City, get out while you still can.
