A price must be paid for Jordan Neely’s death. Unfortunately we remain unprepared to pay it. Since 1974 when a bipartisan decision was made to empty the state psychiatric facilities, large campuses, the equivalent of small towns stand vacant. We’ve learned a great deal since 1974. We have many more and effective psychotropic medications …
A price must be paid for Jordan Neely’s death. Unfortunately we remain unprepared to pay it. Since 1974 when a bipartisan decision was made to empty the state psychiatric facilities, large campuses, the equivalent of small towns stand vacant. We’ve learned a great deal since 1974. We have many more and effective psychotropic medications than the three we had then. Academic disciplines have focused and documented effective methodologies in the treatment of psychoses as well as the dynamics of community including architectural space. In other words, we could resuscitate these campuses, design them for their new purpose, house and support people with reference to their ability to function, and overall create a sustaining environment for people living precarious lives on the street. But, of course, this would be very expensive; much to great a price to ransom Jordan Neely.
There is a 1979 court decision that compels the city to provide adequate shelter for its homeless population. If we were to be overheard in 1978 discussing the plight of the homeless, whoever was listening would think we were delusional. The homeless population, despite the 1974 expulsion from state “homes” was negligible. It took Reagan’s diversion of money designated for public housing to commercial real estate and the beginnings of gentrification of Manhattan to accomplish this. Prior to gentrification, we had SRO (single room occupancy) welfare hotels with social and psychiatric services in the lobby for those willing to involve themselves. But we don't want those people living in immediate proximity to luxury high rises and we don't want to restore that housing elsewhere. Too high a price to pay for Jordan Neely’s life.
So,some kid on the subway where Jordan Neely was psychotically threatening people, is going to pay for his “heroic moment of rescue.” Two lives wasted, and we can assume the young ex-marine was not affluent; affluent people don’t become enlistees in the Marine Corps. Marines, by the way, are shock troops; they’re not regular Army, more on the continuum of Rangers, Special Forces, and Seals. The latter being so exquisitely trained in killing, that they are housed in segregated facilities at Mannheim military base in Germany, in case things get volatile. So we can thank Penny for his service, a service we trained him for, that he misapplied by taking things too far. Neely shouldn’t be dead; he should have been rescued long ago, but we wouldn’t pay the price. Penny will.
A price must be paid for Jordan Neely’s death. Unfortunately we remain unprepared to pay it. Since 1974 when a bipartisan decision was made to empty the state psychiatric facilities, large campuses, the equivalent of small towns stand vacant. We’ve learned a great deal since 1974. We have many more and effective psychotropic medications than the three we had then. Academic disciplines have focused and documented effective methodologies in the treatment of psychoses as well as the dynamics of community including architectural space. In other words, we could resuscitate these campuses, design them for their new purpose, house and support people with reference to their ability to function, and overall create a sustaining environment for people living precarious lives on the street. But, of course, this would be very expensive; much to great a price to ransom Jordan Neely.
There is a 1979 court decision that compels the city to provide adequate shelter for its homeless population. If we were to be overheard in 1978 discussing the plight of the homeless, whoever was listening would think we were delusional. The homeless population, despite the 1974 expulsion from state “homes” was negligible. It took Reagan’s diversion of money designated for public housing to commercial real estate and the beginnings of gentrification of Manhattan to accomplish this. Prior to gentrification, we had SRO (single room occupancy) welfare hotels with social and psychiatric services in the lobby for those willing to involve themselves. But we don't want those people living in immediate proximity to luxury high rises and we don't want to restore that housing elsewhere. Too high a price to pay for Jordan Neely’s life.
So,some kid on the subway where Jordan Neely was psychotically threatening people, is going to pay for his “heroic moment of rescue.” Two lives wasted, and we can assume the young ex-marine was not affluent; affluent people don’t become enlistees in the Marine Corps. Marines, by the way, are shock troops; they’re not regular Army, more on the continuum of Rangers, Special Forces, and Seals. The latter being so exquisitely trained in killing, that they are housed in segregated facilities at Mannheim military base in Germany, in case things get volatile. So we can thank Penny for his service, a service we trained him for, that he misapplied by taking things too far. Neely shouldn’t be dead; he should have been rescued long ago, but we wouldn’t pay the price. Penny will.