New York City Congressman Ritchie Torres has strongly criticized Governor Kathy Hochul for her passive approach to the open-air drug market plaguing the South Bronx. Despite years of promises from city officials to address the issue, “The Hub” area between Melrose and Mott Haven avenues has become a haven for drug addicts, as highlighted in a recent exposé by The Post.
Torres, who is considering a run for governor, has called for amendments to New York’s bail and evidence-discovery laws, as well as greater authority for Mayor Eric Adams to place individuals with severe mental illness and addiction into involuntary care. In a letter to Hochul and Adams, Torres expressed frustration with the state’s inaction, stating that the current approach has led to a cycle of temporary fixes by the NYPD that fail to address the root of the problem.
Residents of “The Hub” have been forced to witness drug use and crime in broad daylight, with Torres demanding that they be given the same standard of public safety as other New Yorkers. Despite previous efforts by City Hall and the NYPD to address the issue, including a multi-agency approach and enforcement sweeps, the situation in the South Bronx has not improved.
In response to Hochul’s recent pledge to make it easier to involuntarily commit and treat dangerous mentally ill individuals, Torres emphasized the need for a long-term solution to the crisis in “The Hub.” He pointed to rising recidivism rates and the need for accountability in the criminal justice system to effectively combat the open-air drug market.
Hochul’s spokesperson pushed back against Torres’ criticism, citing the governor’s efforts to address public safety concerns and introduce legislation to fix involuntary commitment laws. Adams, in his State of the City address, also vowed to prioritize assistance for mentally ill and homeless individuals, proposing a five-year plan that includes a new facility for treatment.
As the debate continues over how to tackle the drug market in the South Bronx, Torres and other officials are calling for concrete action to address the underlying issues contributing to the area’s deterioration. The community’s safety and well-being hang in the balance as leaders work to find a sustainable solution to the ongoing crisis.
