Mayor Adams Invites City, State, and Federal Elected Officials to Ride Along With Subway Outreach Teams During Midnight Shifts

May 17, 2025

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today invited city, state, and federal elected officials from across the five boroughs to join administration officials and the municipal teams working to connect people with severe mental illness on the city’s subways with the support they need. The elected officials, representing all levels of government, are invited to join PATH teams — innovative outreach teams that connect the hardest to reach New Yorkers with support — as part of their nightly tours.  

Following years of Mayor Adams’ advocacy, Albany lawmakers recently voted to reform New York state’s involuntary commitment law to help more New Yorkers get help, even when they do not recognize their own need for it.  

“Since day one, I’ve been clear that denying a person life-saving psychiatric care because their mental illness prevents them from recognizing their need for it is an unacceptable abdication of our moral responsibility,” said Mayor Adams. “Since the beginning of our administration, we have remained committed to this work, even when some of the loudest voices once called it ‘deeply problematic’ and an ‘overreach’. Thanks to our partners in Albany, we’ve made progress, but many elected officials still misunderstand this critical work. I’m urging elected officials at the city, state, and federal levels to witness this important work firsthand by joining a nightly tour where our outreach teams conduct the important work of connecting the hardest-to-reach New Yorkers with vital support. There is still much more to do, and we need collaboration across all levels of government to ensure that people living with severe mental illness receive the care they deserve.” 

Mayor Adams was one of the first and has been one of the loudest elected officials to call for wider use of involuntary removals and commitments. In February 2022, two months after taking office, the Adams administration announced the ‘Subway Safety Plan’ to address unsheltered homelessness. Later that year, the Adams administration released a major policy shift for the city that expanded the city’s work to get people involuntary help.   

Mayor Adams has extended the invitation for evening ride alongs that will take place on an on-going basis.

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