Gov. Kathy Hochul appeared in Buffalo on Monday to announce New York State’s $229 billion budget is setting aside $1 billion in additional funding to address mental health care needs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The announcement comes about a week after Jordan Neely, 30, died from compression of the neck, due to a chokehold that police say was applied by retired Marine Daniel Penny aboard a New York City subway train.
Hochul called Neely’s death “a wake up call” for public officials to address mental health.
“Do I acknowledge how horrific it was to view a video of Jordan Neely being killed for a being a passenger on our subway trains,” Hochul told the press last week.
“Our hearts go out to his family. I’m pleased the D.A. is looking into this matter, as I said, there had to be consequences and so we’ll see how this unfolds; his family deserves justice.”
Neely had reportedly been shouting at people on an F train in Manhattan when fellow riders tackled him and Penny applied a chokehold that lasted until Neely’s body went limp, according to police officials and video of the encounter, the Associated Press reported.
Video of the incident posted online showed the man identified as Penny holding Neely in a headlock for several minutes as Neely tried to break free. A second passenger can be seen holding down Neely’s arms, while a third person holds down his shoulder, the report went on to say.
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