Keep Mental Health Week Moving, City Hall Communications Team, Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, New Deputy Mayor, Medically Vulnerable NYers Connected To Health Svcs: Mayor Adams
Keep Mental Health Week Moving, City Hall Communications Team, Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, New Deputy Mayor, Medically Vulnerable NYers Connected To Health Svcs: Mayor Adams
Editor’s note: Last week, Mayor Adams announced the new Reproductive Rights History in New York research project, seeking volunteers to helps complete the record. His op-ed discussed the neighborhood plans that are bringing new jobs and affordable housing to New York City.
MAYOR ADAMS KEEPS “MENTAL HEALTH WEEK” MOVING BY ANNOUNCING OVER 11,000 ENGAGEMENTS, 3,000 SERVICES DELIVERED TO NEW YORKERS IN CITY’S SUBWAY SYSTEM THROUGH SUCCESSFUL OUTREACH PROGRAM FOCUSED ON HOMELESSNESS AND SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS
Adams Administration’s Subway Safety Plan Has Connected More Than 8,400 New Yorkers Living in Subway System to Shelter
Part of Adams Administration’s “Mental Health Week,” Highlighting City’s Multi-Agency Efforts to Connect New Yorkers with Mental Health Services
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today kept “Mental Health Week ” moving by announcing a key milestone in the city’s Partnership Assistance for Transit Homelessness (PATH) program, which helps keep New Yorkers safe and healthy on the subway system. Since launching in August 2024, PATH has already had over 11,000 engagements with unhoused New Yorkers and delivered services — including shelter, meals, and medical help — over 3,000 times. Additionally, continuing to address the quality-of-life concerns of New Yorkers, members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) issued 290 summonses and removed 911 people from the transit system for various violations of the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (MTA) rules of conduct or state law. The PATH initiative brings together members of the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS), NYC Health + Hospitals, and the NYPD Transit Bureau to connect New Yorkers living unsheltered in the subway system with shelter and care, and provides support to those with severe mental illness if unhoused and in the transit system. PATH teams consist of DHS nurses and outreach staff working alongside NYPD transit police who conduct outreach overnight at subway stations across Manhattan from 8:00 PM to 12:00 PM the next day.
This week, the Adams administration is celebrating “Mental Health Week,” highlighting the city’s multi-agency efforts to support New Yorkers efforts to address mental health, ranging from serious mental illness to expanding resources to underserved communities — all supporting Mayor Adams’ 2025 State of the City commitment to make New York City the best place to live and raise a family.
“Keeping New Yorkers safe is the number one commitment in our administration, especially on the subways, which millions of riders rely on every day,” said Mayor Adams. “When we came into office, we said the days of ignoring people in need — on our streets and in our subways — were over. Despite opposition, we continue to say ‘no’ to the cycle of homelessness that too often results when people with severe mental illness aren’t able to get help or are unable to recognize that they need help. That is why, as we recognize ‘Mental Health Week,’ I am so proud to share the great work our PATH team is doing to reach our most vulnerable. By using a co-response model that combines law enforcement with trained outreach and mental health professionals, this dynamic group can respond to any issue: whether it’s public safety, homelessness, or mental health. In a short period, PATH teams have already had over 11,000 engagements and delivered services over 3,000 times to New Yorkers in need. This program, combined with our Subway Safety Plan — which has already connected over 8,400 New Yorkers to shelter, with over 860 people placed in permanent, affordable housing — and our work to build unprecedented levels of supportive housing, means we are delivering on our mission to make New York City safer, more affordable, and the best place to raise a family.”
“Through our intensified subway outreach efforts, we’ve connected 8,400 New Yorkers in need to shelter, and with the expansion of proven-effective models like Safe Havens, we’ve helped nearly 3,000 New Yorkers move in to permanent homes,” said New York City Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park. “With more recent initiatives like PATH we’re strengthening interagency collaboration to support harder to reach New Yorkers who are in critical need of quality care in safe and stable settings. We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals, the Department of Health, and the New York City Police Department as we work together to help some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers take the first step toward stabilizing their lives.”
“The PATH program is an integral part of our mission to deter crime, improve quality-of-life conditions in our subway, and protect all New Yorkers,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “The members of the NYPD and our mental health partners go into the transit system every night to provide our most vulnerable populations with the resources they need and deserve, while providing some peace of mind to daily commuters. Crime on the subway is down double digits for the third month in a row proving that we can enhance public safety without compromising our moral duty to help those in need.”
PATH is a major advancement in the city’s embrace of “co-response” — a crisis response model gaining traction nationally, in which clinical professionals are paired with police to engage with members of the public in need of medical care and/or social services. Participating police officers receive specialized training in crisis de-escalation and allow their clinical partners to take the lead once safety is assured. While co-response is not meant to replace traditional outreach conducted without police involvement, in certain situations, the presence of police affords clinicians a greater sense of personal safety, enabling more meaningful engagement with those in need. Co-response also greatly enhances the ability of a clinician to initiate transport to a hospital for evaluation in circumstances where an individual exhibits symptoms of mental illness presenting a danger to themselves or others. While in the field, the interagency PATH teams engage everyone they see who appears to be unsheltered, offering individualized support based on the person’s expressed or observed challenges.
In February 2022, Mayor Adams launched the Subway Safety Plan to address public safety concerns and support people experiencing homelessness and severe mental illness on New York City’s subways. Since the start of the plan, over 8,400 New Yorkers have been connected to shelter, with over 860 now in permanent, affordable housing.
Mayor Adams has been on the forefront of implementing successful interventions, major investments, and direct services for people struggling with mental illness. In January 2025, following a 2025 State of the City commitment, the Adams administration took unprecedented action to curb homelessness and support people with severe mental illness by making a $650 million investment in the city’s most vulnerable populations. Additionally, the administration unveiled an innovative model, “Bridge to Home,” where NYC Health + Hospitals will offer a supportive, home-like environment to patients with serious mental illness who are ready for discharge from the hospital but do not have a place to go. By offering patients intensive treatment and comprehensive support, Bridge to Home aims to keep patients on a path toward sustained success, reducing unnecessary emergency room visits and inpatient hospitalizations, decreasing street homelessness and reliance on shelters, and lowering interactions with the criminal justice system.
The Adams administration has made the largest investment in New York City history in creating specialized shelter beds to address street homelessness. The city has opened 1,500 Safe Haven and stabilization beds since the start of the administration and aggressively expanded street outreach teams. Thanks to these important investments, the Adams administration has connected nearly 3,000 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness to permanent housing citywide.
Despite relentlessly delivering on this issue at the city level, the Adams administration understands that updates to state law are necessary to ensure that those experiencing severe mental illness get the support they need. That is why, two years ago, the Adams administration announced an ambitious plan to support New Yorkers living with untreated severe mental illness and experiencing homelessness, which included a new city protocol on involuntary removals and a package of proposed state legal reforms to maximize the city’s ability to serve this population. The Supportive Interventions Act would ensure that those struggling with severe mental illness receive the help they need, instead of the current and unacceptable status quo of waiting for something tragic to happen.
This work is also supported by other efforts the Adams administration has undertaken to address the needs of New Yorkers with serious mental illness. As described in “Care, Community, Action: A Mental Health Plan for NYC,” the administration is committed to taking a public health approach to supporting people with severe mental illness, focusing on prevention and intervention, including by:
- Expanding access to mobile treatment capacity with five more Intensive Mobile Treatment teams that went live in December 2023 to serve people with high service needs.
- Expanding access to clubhouse services through awards that will serve up to 3,750 additional clients.
- Releasing the city’s first ever State of Mental Health Report and Special Report on Social Media and Mental Health.
- Promoting 988, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline and crisis line for all.
- Developing a single-access system in collaboration with New York state to consolidate and streamline how New Yorkers with severe mental illness access services, which is expected to go live early next year.
- Expanding hospital-based response initiative to support people who have experienced a nonfatal overdose.
The Adams administration has taken repeated actions to help those with mental health needs over the last three years. Just this week, Mayor Adams announced accomplishments in the first year of the “Behavioral Health Blueprint” that include restoring and maximizing inpatient capacity, expanding access to outpatient services, increasing services to special populations, enhancing social work, care management, and peer services, preventing violence and increasing safety, and building the behavioral health workforce.
Among Mayor Adams’ top public safety priorities has been addressing transit crime and homelessness in New York City subways through enhancements in both social services and traditional law enforcement. In February 2022, Mayor Adams first launched the Subway Safety Plan to address public safety concerns and support people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, including some of the city’s hardest-to-reach New Yorkers experiencing mental health and substance use challenges on New York City’s subways. In the fall of 2022, Mayor Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul deployed an additional 1,200 police officers to subway platforms and trains each day. Following the end of that deployment in 2023, Mayor Adams directed the NYPD to surge an additional 1,000 police officers into the subway system each day to help keep New Yorkers safe and bring overall crime in the transit system down. In January 2025, in partnership with the Adams administration and Governor Hochul, the NYPD began deployment of two police officers on every train during overnight hours, seven days per week.
These safety efforts are paying off, with overall crime in the subway system down 27.9 percent year to date. The double-digit year-to-date declines resulted from a 36.4 percent decline in January and a 15.1 percent drop in February. The year-to-date statistics also follow 2024’s conclusion as the second straight year of crime dropping in the subway system. Last year, overall crime in the transit system fell by 5.4 percent compared to 2023, as the number of riders increased by 4 percent.
MAYOR ADAMS ADDS TO CITY HALL COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
Kate Smart to Re-Join Administration as Communications Director
Liz Garcia Promoted to First Deputy Press Secretary
Additional Appointments and Promotions Made to Communications, Press, Creative Communications, Speechwriting, and Research Teams
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced new appointments within the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Communications, elevating current members of the City Hall team as well as bringing in new talent to further strengthen the administration’s communications work. In the Communications Office, Kate Smart will return to City Hall as communications director, Dèja Stewart will join City Hall as a communications advisor, and Amaris Cockfield and Colby Rogers are transitioning to new roles on the team, as a deputy communications director and a communications advisor, respectively. In the Press Office, Liz Garcia has been promoted to first deputy press secretary and Zachary Nosanchuk has joined the Adams administration as a deputy press secretary. In the Office of Creative Communications, Avery Kim has been promoted to senior digital communications manager. In the Speechwriting Office, Nathan Swidler has joined as a speechwriter, while in the Office of Research and Media Analysis, Margaret Turner has been promoted to senior deputy director and Hanna Too joins the administration as a research and media analyst.
“Our administration continues to bring in the best and brightest talent, while elevating those on our deep bench who are ready to rise to the moment. Our communications team is no exception,” said Mayor Adams. “Across every part of our communications team, we are welcoming and elevating exciting voices who embrace new, innovative ways to tell New Yorkers about the issues that matter the most. In particular, I am thrilled to have Kate Smart, who was here on day one of our administration, return to help lead the team as communications director. Kate is a seasoned communications professional who has only sharpened her skills while working on high-stakes races across the country and, now, is ready to return home to City Hall. Together, this team of storytellers is prepared to tell the story of our administration and the bright future that lies ahead for New York City.”
“New York is a 24/7 city, and helping run it is a 24/7 job. Our communications team meet that challenge every day, keeping New Yorkers informed during crises, advancing historic initiatives to create a better city for families, uplifting the work of their fellow public servants, and so much more. These are tremendously hard and tiring jobs and I thank every member of the team for putting in the time and giving all they can to serve the greatest city in the world and its 8.5 million residents,” said Deputy Mayor for Communications Fabien Levy. “It has been the privilege of my professional life to work alongside such dedicated people and watch them grow, especially Kate Smart. Kate was with us at the very start of the Adams administration and helped steer our city through critical moments with intelligence, creativity, and dedication. Seeing her, and so many other members of the team, grow in their careers has been an incredible thing to witness. We are thrilled to welcome Kate back home and announce these additional appointments and promotions as well. I am looking forward to continuing our good work as we communicate everything Mayor Adams and our administration is doing to create a safer, more affordable city every day.”
“Since day one, the Adams administration has worked tirelessly on behalf of New Yorkers to build a safer, cleaner, and more affordable city. I’m grateful to Mayor Adams and Deputy Mayor Levy for their trust, and for the opportunity to tell the story of the dedicated public servants who keep New York City moving,” said incoming Communications Director Kate Smart. “As the mayor says, this work is all about the team. Whether on the frontlines of a crisis, or delivering a safer city, I believe that city government is what impacts lives. I’m excited to return to City Hall to continue finding new ways to reach New Yorkers, connect them to their government, and spotlight the ways — every day — city government is delivering for them.”
New appointments and promotions in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Communications include:
Communications Office
About Kate Smart
Kate Smart has returned to City Hall after serving as deputy communications director on U.S. Senator Bob Casey’s re-election campaign in Pennsylvania, where she oversaw day-to-day operations of the communications team, rapid response, and national and in-state surrogate coordination. Prior to that, she led health, human services, public safety, and emergency-related communications at the Mayor’s Office, serving as deputy press secretary and then as deputy communications director. Smart previously worked on a number of electoral campaigns across the country, including the 2021 U.S. Senate runoffs in Georgia, U.S. President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign in Michigan, and Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign in Iowa. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in economics and international relations from Tufts University.
Smart will report to Deputy Mayor for Communications Fabien Levy.
About Amaris Cockfield
Amaris Cockfield has moved from the Press Office to the Communications Office as deputy communications director. Previously, Cockfield served as deputy press secretary and communications advisor. Before joining the Adams administration, Cockfield worked at Mercury Public Affairs, where she focused on public affairs campaign management, coalition building, third-party engagement, and strategic media relations for a broad range of clients. Before that, Cockfield was director of communications in the New York State Assembly and handled all press inquiries for the chair of the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators — the non-profit arm of the New York State Black and Asian Caucus — between 2018 and 2019. Cockfield also managed and directed incoming and outgoing communications for the election of New York City Council District 45 in 2019. Finally, Cockfield was lead media coordinator for historic global social justice and civil rights cases, including the George Floyd case where she managed media coverage for his funeral and the National Action Network’s March on Washington. Cockfield earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the University at Albany – State University of New York.
Cockfield will report to Communications Director Kate Smart.
About Colby Rogers
Colby Rogers has been promoted to communications advisor. Rogers joined City Hall in May 2023 as a press assistant and was previously promoted to special assistant to the deputy mayor for communications, leading strategic initiatives such as the 2024 and 2025 State of the City. Previously, he worked as deputy political director for U.S. Representative Mike Levin’s 2022 re-election campaign. Rogers earned a Bachelor of Arts in public policy and history from the University of Chicago.
Rogers will report to Communications Director Kate Smart.
About Déja Stewart
Déja Stewart will join City Hall as a communications advisor. Stewart currently serves as a communications specialist at the New York City Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit, where she led communications initiatives that amplified city resources and community programs. Previously, she served as communications coordinator for the Vera Institute of Justice, where she focused on media relations for their Ending Girls Incarceration Initiative, managed press outreach, and executed communications strategies across the organization. Stewart also worked for the Hope for Depression Research Foundation and NYC Service within the mayor’s office, where she spearheaded campaigns and community initiatives that drove engagement and expanded organizational impact. Stewart earned a Bachelor of Science in mass communications from North Carolina A&T State University and has a Master of Public Administration from the City University of New York Baruch College.
Stewart will report to Communications Director Kate Smart.
Press Office
About Liz Garcia
Liz Garcia has been promoted to first deputy press secretary after serving as a deputy press secretary since the fall of 2023. Prior to joining the New York City Mayor’s Office, Garcia was a deputy press secretary in New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s Office. She began her career by interning for the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Communications and then the Gavin Newsom for Governor campaign in 2018, and later worked at the Los Angeles City Council, where she assisted constituents with city issues and developed community outreach strategies. Garcia earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles where she was involved in student government, hosted a radio show, and wrote for the school’s Latino/a newsmagazine.
Garcia reports to Press Secretary Kayla Mamelak Altus.
About Zachary Nosanchuk
Zachary Nosanchuk joins City Hall as a deputy press secretary. Most recently, Nosanchuk served as deputy press secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Biden-Harris administration. In that role, he was a spokesperson for the agency’s more than 8,000 federal workers, organized nearly 30 trips with two cabinet secretaries across the nation, and crafted the administration’s messaging on efforts to boost affordable housing for underserved communities. Before serving as deputy press secretary, he was HUD’s assistant press secretary. Previously, Nosanchuk served on the communications team at Precision Strategies, providing strategic communications support to clients in health care, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and political campaigns. He also interned at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, End Citizens United, and on Capitol Hill. Nosanchuk earned a Bachelor of Arts in political communication from The George Washington University.
Nosanchuk reports to Press Secretary Kayla Mamelak Altus.
Office of Creative Communications
About Avery Kim
Avery Kim has been promoted to senior digital communications manager. Kim joined City Hall in April 2023 with a unique portfolio focused on reaching New Yorkers in new ways online, including launching and developing the “Hear From Eric” citywide mayoral newsletter. She was instrumental in leading a strategic reimaging of the city’s Instagram presence, responsible for numerous top-performing posts of all-time across accounts, and has nearly doubled @nycgov’s following. Prior to her work in city government, Kim staffed over a dozen political campaigns, consulted for the U.S. Department of State, and conducted research assessing election integrity threats on social media platforms. Kim earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Columbia College of Columbia University and a Master of International Affairs in international security policy from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Kim reports to Associate Director of Creative Communications Caroline Rubinstein-Willis.
Speechwriting Office
About Nathan Swidler
Nathan Swidler joins City Hall as a speechwriter after working on the Kamala Harris presidential campaign in Wisconsin as a field organizer. Swidler earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics and political science from Brown University.
Swidler will report to Chief Speechwriter Marjorie Sweeney.
Office of Research and Media Analysis
About Margaret Turner
Margaret Turner has been promoted to senior deputy director. Turner joined the Adams administration in October 2022 as a research analyst in the Office of Research and Media Analysis. In January 2024, she was promoted to deputy director and now heads the team. Before joining the administration, Turner worked as a communications associate and assistant to the CEO at Haddad Media in Washington, D.C. Turner earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science and international relations from Tulane University.
Turner reports to Press Secretary Kayla Mamelak Altus.
About Hanna Too
Hanna Too has returned to the Adams administration as a research and media analyst. Too initially joined the administration in June 2023 in the Office of Ethnic and Community Media, where she was a summer intern. A native New Yorker, Too earned a Bachelor of Arts in media studies and sociology from the City University of New York Queens College.
Too will report to Senior Deputy Director of Research and Media Analysis Margaret Turner.
MAYOR ADAMS KICKS OFF PUBLIC REVIEW ON JAMAICA NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN TO CREATE NEARLY 12,000 NEW HOMES, MAKE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN INVESTMENTS TO AREA
Building on Two-Years of Extensive Community Discussions, Plan Will Include Significant Investments in Commercial Space to Create 7,000 Jobs, $300 Million in Sewer Improvements, and New Public Space
Announcement Comes as Adams Administration Continues to Advance Bold, Transformational Housing Projects Across Five Boroughs
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) Director and City Planning Commission (CPC) Chair Dan Garodnick today announced the start of the public review process for the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, a transformative proposal to deliver thousands of homes, thousands of jobs, and hundreds of millions of dollars in investments to Jamaica, Queens. The proposal would update zoning to spur the creation of over 12,000 new homes — including approximately 4,000 permanently income-restricted affordable homes — to a 230-block area of this transit-accessible neighborhood. The plan also boosts commercial and industrial space, creating 7,000 jobs and new economic opportunities for residents. Beyond the zoning changes, the plan includes strategic investments, including $300 million for sewer improvements, transit access and open space, job training, and support for cultural institutions and faith-based organizations. Today’s announcement comes as the Adams administration continues to address the city’s housing crisis by advancing bold, transformational housing projects across the five boroughs.
“A home is more than just four walls and a roof — it’s the foundation needed to achieve the American Dream and thrive in the greatest city on the globe. For the residents of Jamaica, we’re one step closer to making that dream a reality for generations to come,“ said Mayor Adams. “Jamaica is on the precipice of becoming a neighborhood of the future with good-paying jobs, affordable homes, and public spaces for families to enjoy. I applaud all the elected officials, community stakeholders, and everyday New Yorkers who made their voices heard to tailor this plan towards this community’s need. Jamaica’s best days still lie ahead and, together, we’ll build towards a better tomorrow.”
“Jamaica is already an incredibly rich and diverse neighborhood, and we look forward to heralding its next chapter as we formally kick off the public review process for the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, which will deliver over 12,000 new homes and strengthen the local economy, as well as improving area infrastructure and quality of life,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing Economic Development and Workforce Adolfo Carrión, Jr. “I am grateful to the DCP team who has been leading this effort and hearing from the community for more than two years, as well as Councilmembers Williams and Gennaro and Speaker Adams for their ongoing support and partnership.”
“As we work to deliver more quality affordable housing in Jamaica, what turns units into homes — and homes into communities — are the resources that surround and support them. Mayor Adams’ infusion of over $300 million in sewer infrastructure, and addition of two new public plazas near core transportation infrastructure, lay the groundwork for growing neighborhoods,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Jeffrey Roth. “In partnership with the City Council, local residents and advocacy groups, we are ensuring that this holistic plan benefits new and existing residents in profound ways.”
“It is simply not acceptable for a neighborhood with such extraordinary transit access to be constrained by a lack of housing and investment,” said DCP Director and CPC Chair Garodnick. “This plan will change that by providing housing, economic opportunities, and infrastructure upgrades that will help the neighborhood grow and thrive into the future. We developed this plan through a robust, collaborative process, and I encourage community members to continue to stay engaged as public review gets underway.”
“Jamaica is a community defined by not only its historical significance to our city, but its status as an economic powerhouse and a hub of culture and diversity. Everyone who lives, works, or plays here knows its limitless potential, which we fully believe the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan will unlock,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “This zoning framework will unlock just that in the form of thousands of new homes, new jobs, and new opportunities for local families and visitors alike, and I’m excited by the prospect of this plan making its way through the land use review process. I encourage all Jamaica residents to stay engaged and be a part of this community conversation.”
“Jamaica is a vibrant community, and the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan is a historic opportunity to build on that legacy with thoughtful, community-driven investments,” said New York City Councilmember Dr. Nantasha Williams. “This plan has the potential to create affordable homes, support small businesses, and upgrade infrastructure. I applaud Mayor Adams, the Department of City Planning, and all stakeholders who helped bring this vision to life. To ensure investments address quality-of-life concerns, I look forward to incorporating an Oversight Task Force to ensure the plans success, tackle quality of life issues like sanitation, public safety, and transit over the coming decade as part of the plan. As the public review moves forward, I remain committed to centering the voices of Jamaica’s residents in this transformation.”
Building More Affordable Housing
Today’s milestone is a significant step towards building a more affordable Jamaica for working-class families. Currently, the neighborhood has no requirements for affordable housing, and restricts the ability of industrial businesses to grow and thrive. Thanks to two years of extensive community engagement, the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan is tailored to create new housing and economic opportunities in a thoughtful manner that best respects the character of different hubs and corridors of Jamaica. Altogether, the plan is expected to create over 12,000 new homes, with approximately 4,000 of them being permanently income-restricted affordable homes through the mapping of Mandatory Inclusionary Housing — the largest geographic area in New York City where this policy would apply to-date — and financing of affordable homes on public land. Utilizing programs from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the Adams administration has committed to building a total of nearly 120 income-restricted homes across five city-owned sites along Guy R. Brewer Boulevard and Union Hall Street in Queens.
Additional details on the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan include:
Downtown Core: Along Jamaica Avenue and Archer Avenue, a transit-rich area served by the E, J, and Z trains, zoning would allow high-density mixed-use developments with permanently affordable housing, active ground floor retail, and community services. Further north, between Jamaica Avenue and Hillside Avenue, densities would slightly decrease.
Transit Corridors: Along Hillside Avenue, western Jamaica Avenue, Liberty Avenue, Sutphin Boulevard, Guy R. Brewer Boulevard, and Merrick Boulevard, zoning would encourage mixed-use, mid-rise developments with locally-serving retail and community facilities.
South Core: Located immediately to the south of Jamaica Station and the Jamaica Center – Parsons/Archer subway station, mixed-use zoning would allow new housing in this area for the first time in over 60 years. It would also encourage commercial and light manufacturing near world-class transit resources.
Industrial Growth Area: New growth manufacturing zoning would support new employment and local businesses.
More Jobs, Better Public Spaces, and Investing in Infrastructure
The proposal will also grow the local economy by creating over 2 million square feet of commercial and community facility space, which is anticipated to generate more than 7,000 new jobs.
The Adams administration is also committing to several improvements to make sure Jamaica continues to be a thriving neighborhood where existing and new residents alike can live, work, and play. To expand capacity and facilitate the neighborhood’s growth, the plan will invest over $300 million in upgraded sanitary sewer infrastructure. This builds on infrastructure investment the Adams administration is continuing to make in Southeast Queens, including a $2.6 billion to install storm sewers and build a comprehensive drainage system in the area.
Finally, for the public realm, the proposal also includes streetscape enhancements along Jamaica Avenue from the New York City Department of Transportation through Jamaica NOW. Other potential infrastructure improvements throughout Jamaica will be further discussed with the community throughout the public review process.
Engaging with the Community
The Jamaica Neighborhood Plan reflects the priorities of local residents and stakeholders, incorporating feedback from a two-year public engagement process that included 40 in-person and virtual public meetings attended by hundreds of New Yorkers, as well as approximately 3,000 comments. This engagement process was guided by a steering committee with over 50 neighborhood stakeholders, including elected officials, Queens Community Board 12, and many local advocacy groups. DCP also collaborated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Voice to Vision, an online tool that visualized how feedback gathered through community engagement shaped the plan’s vision and goals.
The Jamaica Neighborhood Plan now begins the roughly seven-month Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, which includes reviews by Community Boards 8 and 12 and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, followed by hearings and binding votes at the CPC and then the New York City Council. Alongside today’s certification, DCP has also published the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan booklet, which provides detailed information on the proposal and the planning process to-date.
The Adams Administration’s Record on Housing
This year, Mayor Adams has doubled down on his commitment to build more affordable housing across the five boroughs. Last month, Mayor Adams and the NYCEDC announced the next phase of an ambitious, bold new vision for Coney Island in Brooklyn that will deliver 1,500 new homes and invest in the reconstruction of the historic Riegelmann Boardwalk. Additionally, Mayor Adams and HPD celebrated a $82 million investment to put homeownership within reach for more New Yorkers by expanding the HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program. Finally, the Adams administration has advanced several bold, forward-looking projects, including reimagining Gansevoort Square to build mixed-income housing, building 100 percent affordable housing at the Grand Concourse Library in the Bronx, advancing the 388 Hudson development in Manhattan to provide hundreds of critically-needed affordable housing units, and kicking off public review on the Midtown South Mixed-Use plan to create nearly 10,000 homes — all building on this year’s State of the City address.
Since entering office, Mayor Adams had made historic investments toward creating affordable housing and ensuring more New Yorkers have a place to call home. DCP is advancing several robust neighborhood plans that, if adopted, would deliver more than 50,000 units over the next 15 years in Midtown South in Manhattan and in Long Island City and Jamaica in Queens. Yesterday, the CPC voted in favor of the Atlantic Avenue Neighborhood Plan. Last year, the City Council approved the Bronx-Metro North Station Area Plan, which will create approximately 7,000 homes and 10,000 permanent jobs in the East Bronx.
Moreover, last December, Mayor Adams celebrated the passage of “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” the most pro-housing proposal in city history that will build 80,000 new homes over 15 years and invest $5 billion towards critical infrastructure updates and housing. In June 2024, City Hall and the New York City Council agreed to an on-time, balanced, and fiscally-responsible $112.4 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Adopted Budget that invested $2 billion in capital funds across FY25 and FY26 to HPD and the New York City Housing Authority’s capital budgets. In total, the Adams administration has committed $24.5 billion in housing capital in the current 10-year plan as the city faces a generational housing crisis. Mayor Adams celebrated both back-to-back record breaking fiscal years and calendar years in both creating and connecting New Yorkers to affordable housing. Last spring, the city celebrated the largest 100 percent affordable housing project in 40 years with the Willets Point transformation.
Further, the Adams administration is using every tool available to address the city’s housing crisis. Mayor Adams announced multiple new tools, including a $4 million state grant, to help New York City homeowners create accessory dwelling units that will not only help older adults afford to remain in the communities they call home but also help build generational wealth.
Finally, Mayor Adams and members of his administration successfully advocated for new tools in the 2024 New York state budget that will spur the creation of urgently-needed housing. These tools include a new tax incentive for multifamily rental construction, a tax incentive program to encourage office conversions to create more affordable units, lifting the arbitrary “floor-to-area ratio” cap that held back affordable housing production in certain high-demand areas of the city, and the ability to create a pilot program to legalize and make safe basement apartments.
“Jamaica residents have a strong sense of pride for this neighborhood and its future. That is why we sought community input through a thoughtful, thorough, and intensive two-year long engagement process,” said Justin Rodgers, president & CEO, Greater Jamaica Development Corporation. “The Jamaica Neighborhood Plan will ensure the area remains a home for working class residents, expanded job opportunities, much needed infrastructure improvements, new green spaces and enhancements to the public realm. We appreciate the Adams administration, the Department of City Planning, Borough President Richards and Councilmember Williams for their commitment to Jamaica.”
MAYOR ADAMS APPOINTS RANDY MASTRO AS FIRST DEPUTY MAYOR
Announcement Follows Recent Appointment of Senior Leadership Positions, Rounding Out Mayor Adams’ City Hall Senior Leadership
Administration Continues to Advance Mission to Make New York City Safer, More Affordable, and Best Place to Raise a Family
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointment of Randy Mastro as first deputy mayor. Mastro is a nationally-renowned lawyer; an experienced public servant with an impressive record in government service; a long-time pro bono advocate for social justice, civil rights, and constitutional rights; a leader of revered civic organizations; and a proven leader committed to diversity and inclusion. As a lifelong New Yorker, Mastro’s commitment to public service is highly regarded, and he will bring his decades of experience in both the public and private sectors to serve the city and its nearly 8.5 million residents.
Over the last three years, the Adams administration has passed three on-time, balanced budgets, helped put more than $30 billion back into the pockets of working-class New Yorkers, produced record levels of housing, increased the total number of jobs to its highest levels in city history, safely brought New York City out of the COVID-19 pandemic, managed an international humanitarian crisis better than any other city in the nation, built unprecedented public space, and made the city safer at every level. Mastro will now help Mayor Adams continue all that work and do more, along with other senior members of the team at City Hall and at dozens of agencies affecting New Yorkers’ daily lives.
“Our administration has broken record after record by building more housing, driving down crime, investing in public spaces, dramatically expanding access to affordable child care, managing an international humanitarian crisis, and so much more. We were able to achieve all these wins because of the more than 300,000 city employees who work tirelessly on behalf of New Yorkers every day, and importantly, because we have always had an impressive senior leadership team that remains focused on executing on our goals. Today, Randy Mastro joins the team as we work to double down on all we have delivered for New Yorkers,” said Mayor Adams. “Randy is a storied and impressive New Yorker with a track record of success in the face of some of the city and nation’s most challenging times. I, and the whole team, welcome Randy to our administration and look forward to working side-by-side with him as we continue to lead the city forward and make New York City a safer, more affordable city that is the best place to raise a family.”
“I am honored to serve the city again and grateful to Mayor Adams for affording me this opportunity,” said incoming First Deputy Mayor Mastro. “Like so many New Yorkers, I love this city and want it to succeed. So much has been accomplished for New Yorkers during this administration when it comes to public safety, job growth, and affordable housing. I look forward to continuing to deliver a safe, affordable city and to improving quality of life for all New Yorkers. I believe now, in particular, is a time to heed the call to public service, and I am excited to answer the call.”
About Randy Mastro
Randy Mastro has a long record of both city and federal public service. From 1994 to 1998, he served as deputy mayor for operations and chief of staff to the mayor of New York City. During that time, he helped tackle organized crime and helped shepherd through the nation’s most sweeping protections for same-sex partnerships, efforts referred to as a “legacy” achievement.
When he departed City Hall, the Daily News praised him for doing “the seemingly impossible,” noting “his contributions to the city he served so well will last a lifetime;” the New York Post lauded his “tireless and dynamic” service and “general good sense;” and The New York Times quoted a colleague describing him as “the administration’s conscience.”
From 1985 to 1989, Mastro served as assistant U.S. attorney and deputy chief of the Civil Division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, where he specialized in organized crime cases. During that time, he led the landmark racketeering suit against the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and received the highest recognitions by the U.S. Department of Justice for that work, including the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award and the John Marshall Award for Outstanding Legal Achievement.
Mastro is one of the nation’s most respected lawyers. He also has an extensive record of litigating cases on a pro bono basis, including successfully advocating for the families of fallen 9/11 firefighter heroes that were entitled to millions in donations, fighting for racial justice, protecting civil rights and academic freedoms, and helping to reopen houses of worship that were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
From 2016 until earlier this year, Mastro served as chair of the Citizens Union, New York’s revered, non-partisan “good government” group, focused on holding local government accountable and empowering all New Yorkers. He previously served as former vice chair of The Legal Aid Society and as a former board member of The City University of New York, the YMCA, Sanctuary for Families, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Hale House, and the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
Mastro has also taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and at Fordham Law School. He has authored and co-authored articles in the Fordham Law Review, the Federal Communications Law Journal, the University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform, and the Seton Hall Law Review, among others. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Yale University and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.
Mastro will report directly to Mayor Adams.
MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS HAS CONNECTED MORE THAN 1,000 MEDICALLY-VULNERABLE NEW YORKERS LEAVING RIKERS ISLAND WITH SMARTPHONES TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT
Free Smartphones Have Helped Recently Incarcerated People Stay Engaged With Health Care and Mental Health Treatment, Connects Them to Housing and Employment Resources
74 Percent of Phones Distributed Through End of January Went to People with Serious Mental Illness or People Receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
Part of Adams Administration’s “Mental Health Week,” Highlighting City’s Multi-Agency Efforts to Connect New Yorkers with Mental Health Services
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz today continued “Mental Health Week ” by announced that the city has connected more than 1,000 medically-vulnerable New Yorkers leaving Rikers Island with smartphones as part of its smartphone access program, enabling them to remain engaged in health care, mental health treatment, connect with job and housing resources, and stay connected to loved ones upon returning to their communities. This week, the Adams administration is celebrating “Mental Health Week,” highlighting the city’s multi-agency efforts to support New Yorkers in addressing mental health, ranging from serious mental illness to expanding resources to underserved communities, and advancing Mayor Adams’ 2025 State of the City commitment to make New York City the best place to raise a family.
“Helping justice-involved New Yorkers move forward in their lives and stay out of the criminal justice system is a top priority for our administration, and staying on top of medical and mental health care is a crucial part of this process,” said Mayor Adams. “By putting smartphones in the hands of these New Yorkers as they leave correctional facilities — already set up with numbers and applications to connect them with services they will need — we are making it easier for them to stay on top of their medication and treatment plans so they can focus on successfully rebuilding their lives.”
“As the safety-net provider for New York City, we at NYC Health + Hospitals recognize how important it is to help our patients remain connected to services after they leave our care. This is especially true for our Correctional Health Services patients, which is why the smartphone program is so essential,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Katz. “We’re thankful to T-Mobile and Premier Wireless for their partnership, and to the Correctional Health Services reentry team for helping formerly incarcerated New Yorkers transition back to their communities.”
The smartphone access program through NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services (CHS) provides free smartphones and wireless plans to vulnerable New Yorkers immediately upon their release from Rikers Island at the CHS reentry service center. The Point of Reentry and Transition (PORT) clinic is designed for CHS patients recently released from a correctional facility. Smartphones and service plans have helped former CHS patients connect with health care providers, pick up their prescriptions, and access jobs, housing, and substance use disorder resources. Smartphones have been an especially valuable tool for the 74 percent of recipients who have had serious mental illness or were receiving medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder at the time of their release, and the phones help give easier access to continued medical care.
CHS — the direct provider of health care in New York City jails — officially launched its smartphone access program for the first-ever reentry service center on Rikers Island in July 2023. The phones — donated by T-Mobile — feature customized software developed by Premier Wireless Business Technology Solutions and are pre-programmed with applications and phone numbers that CHS selected to help users navigate housing, employment, and health care in the community. Premier Wireless’s CPR3 program helps vulnerable individuals connect to food and shelter, access telehealth services, develop life skills, find mental health support, strengthen relationships, and more to help them achieve self-sufficiency.
Eligible recipients initially included persons with serious mental illness, individuals who received complex medical care while in jail, and other special patient populations. Eligibility criteria expanded in November 2024 to include all patients enrolled in CHS’ substance use services.
According to testimonials shared with CHS, phone recipients have used their phones to:
- Complete an intake interview for a substance use disorder inpatient facility.
- Connect with the Doe Fund to find employment.
- Select a pharmacy for their post-release medications.
- Navigate to a case management office for housing assistance.
- Make an appointment at a NYC Health + Hospitals PORT clinic.
CHS’ smartphone access program builds on its robust reentry and discharge planning services to ensure that New Yorkers leaving custody are connected with the resources they need to successfully return to their communities. Services include the PORT Line — a general helpline staffed by and for people who are in, or have been in, involved in the criminal-legal system — to provide guidance and referrals after being released from incarceration. Since its opening, CHS’ reentry service center on Rikers Island has served more than 6,300 people to date, offering visitors MetroCards, Narcan, coffee, directions, and more.
The Adams administration has taken repeated actions to help those with mental health needs over the last three years. Just this week, Mayor Adams announced accomplishments in the first year of the “Behavioral Health Blueprint” that include restoring and maximizing inpatient capacity, expanding access to outpatient services, increasing services to special populations, enhancing social work, care management, and peer services, preventing violence and increasing safety, and building the behavioral health workforce.
Mayor Adams has been on the forefront of implementing successful interventions, major investments, and direct services for people struggling with mental illness. In January 2025, following a 2025 State of the City commitment, the Adams administration took unprecedented action to curb street homelessness and support people with severe mental illness by making a $650 million investment in the city’s most vulnerable populations. The Adams administration has also made the largest investment in New York City history in creating specialized shelter beds to address street homelessness. The city has opened 1,400 Safe Haven and stabilization beds since the start of the administration and doubled the number of street outreach teams. Additionally, the announcement included the unveiling of an innovative model, “Bridge to Home,” where NYC Health + Hospitals will offer a supportive, home-like environment to patients with serious mental illness who are ready for discharge from the hospital but do not have a place to go. By offering patients intensive treatment and comprehensive support, Bridge to Home aims to keep patients on a path toward sustained success, reducing unnecessary emergency room visits and inpatient hospitalizations, decreasing street homelessness and reliance on shelters, and lowering interactions with the criminal justice system.
In February 2022, Mayor Adams first launched the Subway Safety Plan to address public safety concerns and support people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, including some of the city’s hardest-to-reach New Yorkers experiencing mental health and substance use challenges on New York City’s subways. Since the start of the plan, over 8,000 New Yorkers have been connected to shelter, with over 2,800 now in permanent, affordable housing. A key part of the Subway Safety Plan is the co-response programs, the Partnership Assistance for Transit Homelessness (PATH) program, which brings together law enforcement and trained clinicians to conduct outreach on the subways. Since the beginning of PATH, the administration has contacted over 10,800 unhoused New Yorkers and delivered services to over 3,300 people.
Banner Image: Mayor Eric Adams delivers remarks at Gold Star Wives of America (GSW) and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr.’s Gold Star Spouses Day. Queens Borough Hall, Kew Gardens. Thursday, April 3, 2025. Image Credit – Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
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