CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org

VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO UPDATES IN JORDAN NEELY MURDER TRIAL

 Just This Week, Mayor Adams Suggested Using the Chokehold That Killed Jordan Neely Was the “Right Decision”

NEW YORK — Today, Manhattan prosecutors announced they would lessen charges against the man who killed Jordan Neely on the subway last year. In response, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to Neil Berry, a leader with VOCAL-NY:

“Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams have made it more dangerous for people experiencing homelessness, especially those from marginalized communities. They enacted policies that – instead of addressing the root causes of these issues – scapegoated and stigmatized people with mental health complexities, automatically assuming they plan to do harm to others when in reality, they are more likely to be victims of violence. We need to erase the stigma that makes homeless people seem less than human. 

The conditions that led to Jordan Neely’s death are the same today as they were then, if not worse. No trial or court process will change that. Solutions do exist, though the political will to enact them is failing both at the state and city level. 

We don’t need so-called ‘vigilante justice’— we need trained healthcare workers to diagnose the issues and connect people with services after providing care, not criminalize them. Hochul and Adams were the ones to create the environment for violence through rhetoric and failing to implement policies that work, and Jordan Neely paid with his life.”

BACKGROUND:

Since the start of Mayor Adams term, his administration has increased law enforcement presence and involuntary commitment on the subways to specifically target people experiencing homelessness. In March 2024, Governor Hochul deployed the National Guard to the NYC subway system and banned marginalized New Yorkers from transit. Both elected leaders have failed to create immediate opportunities for permanent housing and make investments that would keep all New Yorkers safe. 

###