A series of recent violent attacks in the New York City subways have refocused attention on the question of if — and when — involuntary removal and hospitalization should be used to address what city officials have called a crisis of homelessness and untreated mental illness. New York City has pushed these measures as a key part of the solution to the problem, and Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced plans to propose a change to state law that would make it easier to forcibly hospitalize someone.
But it’s a return to an old approach that the city tried decades ago, under a policy made famous by a woman named Joyce Brown. Dubbed by the media as “the most famous homeless person in America,” Brown became a test case in how far the government could go in forcing mentally ill, unsheltered New Yorkers into the hospital, and raised questions about how to strike a balance between public order and civil liberties. Brown’s story brings crucial context and nuance as New York pushes forward with its controversial approach to one of the most intractable issues facing communities around the country today.
This piece was produced by Retro Report. It was produced by Sarah Weiser and edited by Heru Muharrar.
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