Post by abbey1227 on Jun 22, 2021 11:21:01 GMT
Business Insider
NYC mayoral candidate Andrew Yang doubles down on comments blaming mentally ill people for New York City's problems
Cheryl Teh Mon, June 21, 2021, 11:02 PM
Yang, a former presidential candidate, is facing backlash over his comments on mentally ill and homeless people. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
NYC mayoral candidate Andrew Yang doubled down on his comments on mentally ill people on Monday.
Yang said those who were mentally ill were affecting tourism during an appearance on billionaire John Catsimatidis's radio show.
Yang echoed remarks he made on mental illness and homelessness at last week's NYC mayoral debate.
In the final hours of the New York City mayoral campaign, candidate Andrew Yang doubled down on his comments on the mentally ill and homeless.
Phoning into a radio show with billionaire John Catsimatidis on Monday, Yang complained that mentally ill people affect the city's tourism.
Yang was responding to Catsimatidis's statement that too many mentally ill people live on the streets instead of in hospitals. He agreed with Catsimatidis that money is better spent on building facilities to treat people.
"We need to get them the care that they need, but that will also supercharge our economic recovery because we all see these mentally ill people on our streets and subways, and you know who else sees them? Tourists. And then they don't come back, and they tell their friends, 'Don't go to New York City,'" Yang said.
"We're never going to get our jobs back and our economy back if we don't get the mentally ill people who are on our streets in a better environment," Yang added.
The comments Yang made on Monday were similar to those he made at the NYC mayoral debate last Wednesday, for which he received backlash on social media.
"Yes, mentally ill people have rights, but you know who else have rights? We do! The people and families of the city," Yang said last week during the debate."We have the right to walk the street and not fear for our safety because a mentally ill person is going to lash out at us."
NYC mayoral candidate Andrew Yang doubles down on comments blaming mentally ill people for New York City's problems
Cheryl Teh Mon, June 21, 2021, 11:02 PM
Yang, a former presidential candidate, is facing backlash over his comments on mentally ill and homeless people. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
NYC mayoral candidate Andrew Yang doubled down on his comments on mentally ill people on Monday.
Yang said those who were mentally ill were affecting tourism during an appearance on billionaire John Catsimatidis's radio show.
Yang echoed remarks he made on mental illness and homelessness at last week's NYC mayoral debate.
In the final hours of the New York City mayoral campaign, candidate Andrew Yang doubled down on his comments on the mentally ill and homeless.
Phoning into a radio show with billionaire John Catsimatidis on Monday, Yang complained that mentally ill people affect the city's tourism.
Yang was responding to Catsimatidis's statement that too many mentally ill people live on the streets instead of in hospitals. He agreed with Catsimatidis that money is better spent on building facilities to treat people.
"We need to get them the care that they need, but that will also supercharge our economic recovery because we all see these mentally ill people on our streets and subways, and you know who else sees them? Tourists. And then they don't come back, and they tell their friends, 'Don't go to New York City,'" Yang said.
"We're never going to get our jobs back and our economy back if we don't get the mentally ill people who are on our streets in a better environment," Yang added.
The comments Yang made on Monday were similar to those he made at the NYC mayoral debate last Wednesday, for which he received backlash on social media.
"Yes, mentally ill people have rights, but you know who else have rights? We do! The people and families of the city," Yang said last week during the debate."We have the right to walk the street and not fear for our safety because a mentally ill person is going to lash out at us."
According to a New York Times report, Yang said at an event later on Monday with fellow candidate Kathryn Garcia that he stood by the comments he made to Catsimatidis. Yang also emphasized the need for "public safety."
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