Marinda van Dalen, senior staff attorney with NYLPI’s Health and Disability Justice programs, was featured on the Committable podcast, alongside NYCLU’s Beth Haroules, in a discussion about how Mayor Eric Adams’ new mental health directive can be harmful to people with disabilities.

“Police officers should not be first responders when someone’s experiencing a mental health crisis. When the police arrive, they escalate the situation. And what people need in those circumstances is someone who can help de-escalate the situation. When the police arrive it’s frequently with a fleet of cars, with the sirens blaring and the lights flashing. They make demands, they scream at people, they tell them what to do, and that is not an effective way to help somebody who’s in crisis.”

Listen to the episode here, read a transcript here or find the podcast wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

Learn more about Baerga v. City of New York news here.