NYC Mayor Adams responds to criticism that stabbing spree suspect was released from prison early

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams is responding to criticism sparked by last week’s deadly stabbing attack in Manhattan.

It was Ramon Rivera He is accused of killing three people in what police described as three random attacks.

The question was and remains: Why was Rivera on the streets, especially with a long criminal history and serious mental health issues?

The mayor on Tuesday revealed new details about his early release from prison despite being accused of assaulting a corrections officer at Rikers.

“The system is broken,” Mayor Adams said.

Adams said there are plenty of charges to go around, Rivera should be in jail and his three victims should be alive.

“When three New Yorkers are killed, no one can say they’re doing enough. Actually, NJ, that’s the right question to ask. Is there anyone right now who’s saying they’re doing enough? I mean, I know people are saying, well, the city needs to do more, and then we should say yes, the city should do more.” “He needs to do more, and by the way, do you need to do more?” Adams said at a news conference Tuesday.

Rivera was arrested minutes after his rampage ended. Three people were stabbed to death completely randomly.

Rivera had multiple previous arrests.

As recently as May, he was held at Bellvue Jail, where he assaulted a corrections officer. A disciplinary hearing was held. He was later sentenced to one year in prison on August 6, but after being released for good behavior, he appeared in court on a new charge of petty theft and was subsequently released without bail.

Congressman Ritchie Torres He blames Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul.

“There should be a state law prohibiting early release of people with severe mental illness who pose a risk to themselves and to society,” Torres said. he said.

Governor Hochul blames correctional officers.

“Why are people being removed from Rikers, why are they attacking a corrections officer, I said this is a failure of the system,” Hochul said.

The mayor has been trying for months to get seriously mentally ill people off the streets and subways.

But he cannot force them except in extreme cases.

He and his team say this needs to change.

“We have to take the necessary steps, stop lying about this, stop saying they have the right to live on our streets, they have the right not to take their medication, they have the right to do whatever they want, that’s the consequence. What was I talking about,” Adams said.

The mayor insists the law is no longer enough to address the mental health problems of a post-pandemic city. Until it’s rewritten, he says, mentally ill people will continue to suffer and New Yorkers will be more vulnerable than they need to be.

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