STATEN ISLAND ELECTED OFFICIALS URGE MAYOR MAMDANI TO RENEW OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDING
“As these funds near renewal, we believe it is essential to continue the progress that has been made in saving lives on Staten Island.”
Editor’s note: As we reported on previously, the “hotspotting” program, a new healthcare rehabilitation method that has been rolled out by local hospitals recently, has prevented multiple overdose deaths. By encouraging participants to feel that they are cared for, knowing that someone is looking out for them, and by the design of the program itself, multiple deaths that might have otherwise occurred have been prevented. The success of this program relies on its continuance, for which this funding is necessary. While Staten Island does not have an NYC Health + Hospitals location, Assemblymember Pirozzolo was able to obtain this funding for application to the types of care facilities doing this important work that the island DOES have.
Staten Island, NY — Staten Island’s entire elected official delegation is calling on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to immediately begin the renewal process for Opioid Settlement Funding dedicated to Staten Island. Delays could jeopardize lifesaving treatment and recovery services across our borough.
The letter, sent to Mayor Mamdani, led by Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, Borough President Vito Fossella, District Attorney Michael McMahon, Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Senator Andrew Lanza, Assemblyman Charles Fall, Assemblyman Michael Reilly, Assemblyman Michael Tannousis, Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks, Councilman David Carr, and Councilman Frank Morano, urged the administration to open the next application cycle as the current round of opioid settlement funding approaches renewal, ensuring continuity of care for Staten Islanders struggling with substance use disorder.
The letter notes that although New York State secured billions of dollars in opioid settlement funds from the pharmaceutical industry, Staten Island was initially excluded from receiving any of those resources. Following advocacy and negotiations by Staten Island’s elected officials and healthcare providers, Staten Island secured $12 million in opioid settlement funding from NYC to strengthen the borough’s treatment and support system.
Those grants expanded access to care and supported a more robust public health response, but Staten Island’s elected officials are stressing that the work is far from complete.
The letter in its entirety is below:
Dear Mayor Mamdani,
As the initial round of Opioid Settlement Funding dedicated to Staten Island approaches its renewal, we are writing to request that the application cycle begin in order to distribute newly available funds to continue lifesaving services for Staten Islanders battling substance use disorder. Please let us know the best way to move forward to continue the grant process.
Staten Island has been one of the most highly affected communities in New York City by the opioid crisis. While citywide overdose deaths decreased overall in 2024, the rate of overdose death among Staten Island residents remained substantially high compared to other boroughs, clearly proving a continued need for treatment, prevention, and recovery for Staten Islanders.
To combat the disastrous impacts of opioids, the New York State Attorney General’s office secured billions of dollars in settlements from the pharmaceutical industry, intended to support addiction treatment and harm reduction efforts. Shockingly, none of that money was initially allocated to Staten Island.
From 2022 to 2023, Staten Island’s elected officials and healthcare partners worked with NYC to address this disparity and successfully secured $12 million in opioid settlement funding over four years, allocated to Staten Island’s treatment and support system. This funding expanded access to care and strengthened a coordinated response that has demonstrably addressed a critical public health need in our borough, however, there is plenty more work that must be done.
As these funds near renewal, we believe it is essential to continue the progress that has been made in saving lives on Staten Island. We look forward to hearing from you and are available at any time to discuss further.
Sincerely,
Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo represents the 63rd Assembly District, which encompasses parts of the North Shore, including Emerson Hill, Sunnyside, Bloomfield, Travis and Chelsea.
Banner Image: Addiction. Image Credit – Bermix Studio
Assemlymember Sam Pirozzolo
Sam Pirozzolo is a native Staten Islander. He is a frequent contributor to the Staten Islander, and is well-known and loved by people on both the Right and Left, in his North Shore community. Sam brings people together, instead of dividing, by speaking common sense and analyzing our island's, and city's, issues, with intelligence and concern for all. Sam Pirozzolo was elected to the New York State Assembly on November 8, 2022. The 63rd Assembly District represents parts of Richmond County. Sam has successfully operated his family’s optical practice for 33 years. He is the past president of Community Education Council 31 where he served for seven years. Some of his most notable accomplishments include the creation of a Gifted and Talented program for middle school students, the recommendation for the NYC Department of Education to hire retired police officers as school resource officers, and the successful fight for the immediate cleanup of toxic PCBs leaking from the light fixtures in school classrooms. As an education advocate, Sam has participated in historic litigation that led to the return of more than $4 billion to New York public schools. He also fought to ensure that co-located charter schools receive the same capital funding as their host public schools. While serving in the Legislature, Sam will work to support law enforcement officers with proper funding, fix broken bail and parole policies, and help small businesses grow and thrive in a stronger, more resilient economy.