Cuomo's vague mental health proposal amounts to another unfunded mandate

ALBANY, NY (07/10/2013)(readMedia)-- CSEA today sharply criticized Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposal to consolidate state psychiatric centers as vague, irresponsible and likely to cost local taxpayers.

"There is nothing of excellence in Governor Cuomo's proposal to close psychiatric centers, leave seriously ill people without the help they need and dump more unfunded mandates on local taxpayers," said CSEA President Danny Donohue. Cuomo's proposal renames remaining state psychiatric facilities as Centers of Excellence.

"Once again, the Cuomo administration is purposely misleading the public about the impact of his policies by packaging his proposal with a nice sounding name without providing any real detail about how services will be provided or supported," Donohue said.

There are not adequate services now and this plan does nothing to improve that.

By some estimates, more than half the inmates in county jails and correctional facilities have some form of mental illness. Many of these individuals wouldn't even be incarcerated if they could get the help and care they need in their community. Local taxpayers will continue to foot the bill and then some for the state's failure to ensure appropriate services in what amounts to an unfunded mandate.

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