Res. No. 771 Title Resolution condemning the Governor's proposal to close the Bronx Children's Psychiatric Center, the Bronx Psychiatric Center, and three other adult psychiatric centers that serve children and adults with serious and persistent mental disabilities in the City and State of New York. Body By Council Members López, Baez, Barron, Davis, Foster, Gerson, Jackson, Koppell, Martinez, Monserrate, Perkins, Quinn, Seabrook, Serrano, Stewart, Vann and Brewer Whereas, Governor Pataki proposes in his State Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2003-2004 (the "Governor's Plan") to downsize the State-operated psychiatric center system by closing one children's psychiatric center and four adult psychiatric centers, merging psychiatric research facilities, eliminating 90 psychiatric beds, and reducing the system's workforce by nearly 1,000 persons; and Whereas, On March 13, 2003, the New York State Office of Mental Health ("OMH") began the closure and layoff process at the targeted psychiatric centers and research facilities by notifying employees of timetables for shutdowns and workforce reductions; and Whereas, The Governor's Plan completely ignores the adverse impact that these closures will have on the mental health of children and adults with serious and persistent mental illness and developmental disabilities; and Whereas, The Governor's Plan does not provide any comparable alternatives for the care of such vulnerable children and adults, and fails to address the severe personal hardship that closing the Bronx Children's Psychiatric Center, the Bronx Psychiatric Center, and other psychiatric facilities will place on the families of these patients; and Whereas, The Governor's Plan violates section 7.17 of the New York State Mental Hygiene Law because it fails to satisfy the requisite one year notice before closing certain psychiatric facilities, and because the State OMH has not waited for legislative action and approval on specific budget proposals before commencing to take action; and Whereas, The Governor's Plan shows a callous disregard for the civil rights of children and adults with mental illness and developmental disabilities; and Whereas, The Governor's Plan, if implemented, will result in irreparable harm to thousands of mentally ill New Yorkers, disrupting much needed treatment, services and crucial care, particularly for the children at the Bronx Children's Psychiatric Center and adults at the Bronx Psychiatric Center, and causing great distress to nearly 1,000 workers with layoffs during these very difficult economic times; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York condemns the Governor's Budget proposal to close the Bronx Children's Psychiatric Center, the Bronx Psychiatric Center, and three other adult psychiatric centers that serve children and adults with serious and persistent mental disabilities in the City and State of New York. LS#2130 MFB 3/26/03 |10
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