The phones at NYC-WELL ring constantly, 180,000 times in 2018, according to city data. I'm not sure anybody does.'. The Thrive program budgeted millions to create diversion centers, a place other than jail for officers to bring those experiencing a mental health crisis. Budget watchdogs have lamented Thrives opacity. Bob McManus is a contributing editor of City Journal. Chirlane McCray, the wife of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, wasawarded $900 million to launch a mental health project aimed at assisting the citys homeless. ", Sometimes you look at a headline like this and think: "that can't possibly be true.". As a result, the program reached just 570 women who had been diagnosed with postpartum depression a sliver of the 12,000 to 15,000 McCray estimated are affected each year. The site said it had tried and failed to acquire a line-item budget from Thrive, and the two budget breakdowns it had seen showed wildly different numbers. (Some are repeat callers, with a few who call as many as 200 times a day.). Four years later, no one seems to know what that money was actually used for, according to the New York Post. Ms. McCray implores those she meets to take the course, which includes discussions and role playing. But lets be clear: If your boondogglery sets the New York City Council back on its heels, you truly are soaring with the eagles. Laura Ingraham has even called it a scheme. That first year, she began talking with Dr. Belkin. It seems that Mayor Bill de Blasio's wife (Chirlane McCray) headed a taxpayer-funded project called ThriveNYC and now she can not, or will not, account for $850 million in taxpayer money. At the same time, some initiatives failed to get started, while others placed unrealistic demands on already strained mental health services. Repeatedly presented by City Hall as a four-year $850 million plan, city officials now say $560 million will have been spent in that time. Its about trying to give people who are socioeconomically disadvantaged access to the same kind of mental health care that people in upper middle income or affluent communities have enjoyed as a matter of course for a very long time.. The program, ThriveNYC, has fallen far behind its goals and appears to be a massive failure for the city. And the depth issue, I dont know of many city initiatives that have so quickly touched so many New Yorkers in such a short period of time, Belkin said. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Bill de Blasio's wife Chirlane McCray cannot explain where $850million given to the mental health program she champions has gone, according to reports. "I like the fact that money is going toward mental health, but when they say we're seeing a benefit in all areas, I take exception to that, because I don't see it everywhere," Queens Councilman Robert Holden told The Post. Some requested anonymity for fear of retaliation while others were more vocal in their critiques. Thrive has publicized some data through the mayors annual management report of all city agencies, beginning in 2016, but it encompassed only a fraction of the programs scope. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.]. Thrive also is meant to focus on communities African Americans, Latinos, military veterans who are less likely to seek care for mental health problems. Well, he didnt actually say rathole, and the price tag has doubtless been lowballed but he also had no credible explanation for the debacle, nor did he apologize for it. De Blasio insisted McCray is just as available to questions as he is, despite a majority of the first ladys events having no question and answer period. You should choose to work on something that you would do without pay, she said. Thank you! Social media ads promoting Thrive have reached millions of people, according to the metrics, but the data doesnt show how many people actually used the program after learning about it. That Stringer could sleep through it all is the real scandal; why does the city even have a comptroller, if thats the standard of performance? But there are other mysteries out there, too. Seven mayors attended a 2017 national mental health conference in New York City. People can receive confidential crisis counseling and referrals. Zelensky Exposed (Literally): This Is The Guy We Are Sending Billions To? And guess what I finally found it. (She receives no pay for her city work.). In the three years it has been running, organizers at ThriveNYC have largely failed to keep records of the initiative's achievements - and data that has been collected shows it lagging . His wife, Chirlane McCray, was given $850 million for a mental health program she was spearheading, The Daily Mail reported. Are we there yet? All rights reserved. Twenty-nine hospitals responsible for more than 78,000 newborn deliveries each year representing nearly seven in 10 births in the city committed to screen all new mothers for maternal depression. McCray is the proprietress of ThriveNYC, a mental-health-related something-or-other created four-plus years ago to give a little heft to the conceit that Bill and Chirlane were elected as co-mayors which is nonsense on stilts. Four years later, no one seems to know what that money was actually used for, according to the New York Post. Claim Your Free Trump 2020 Hat - Just Cover Shipping Poof. McCray formally serves as chair of the Mayors Fund to Advance New York City and is the face of ThriveNYC an $850 million dollar administration initiative she helped design to improve the citys mental health and substance abuse services. Click here to log out. Right up there with co-Mayor Bill, who started the week on his own sour note announcing that his signature Renewal school program was closing up shop after pounding $773 million down a rathole. We invite you to become a WeLoveTrump insider. 12:52 GMT 01 Mar 2019 Laura Ingraham has even called it a "scheme". . In fact, the mayor said Wednesday, McCray should get paid, but for widely accepted nepotism rules forbidding such an arrangement. The wife of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio "can't account for" $850 million in missing taxpayer money that was granted to her mental health project, according to reports. Im more than confused and more than surprised on this newfound interest on something that we have been talking about for four years, de Blasio said. When youre thinking about performance, theres both outcome and output, said Ana Champeny, director of city studies at the Citizens Budget Commission. Does anybody know how well more likely, how poorly the co-mayors hugely expensive pre-K program is working, especially that portion consigned to the citys notoriously problematic not-for-profit sector? Of the 78,000 newborn deliveries in the city annually, only 28,560 new mothers have been screened by the Thrive program. Thrive would then refer them to counseling, which is considered an effective way to treat the problem. De Blasio did not say hed pursue a change in the law and acknowledged there were good historical reasons for the rule. And its only (your) money even if it is quite a lot of it. New York has given up on policing drugs, and the city suffers, David Paterson is right Mayor Adams needs to get tougher. This news comes as the mayor is consideringlaying off up to 22,000 municipal workers in the falldue to budget constraints related to COVID-19. For example, 29 hospitals had agreed to screen almost 78,000 new mothers for post-natal depression each year as part of the scheme. Did NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio's Wife "Lose" $850 MILLION of Taxpayer Money? But the co-mayor made performance promises when he initiated the Renewal program, few of which even remotely were met, and presently gravity prevailed: The program caved in on itself. That is, no one appears to have kept receipts; the subways and street corners are still crawling with lunatics, and no one in control knows what will happen next. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. If we want to reach all these women, we need to start somewhere. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's wife, Chirlane McCray, was given $900 million to start a mental health initiative focusing on helping the homeless in the city. Roughly 10 percent of the Thrive budget, more than $30 million in the current fiscal year, goes to address serious mental illness, according to City Hall. NO JOKE: Bill De Blasio's Wife Lost $850 Million Taxpayer Dollars In Bill de Blasio's wife cant account for $850 million allocated to her Please check your email inbox to confirm your message and send it to our editorial team. But the co-mayor made performance promises when he initiated the Renewal program, few of which even remotely were met, and presently gravity prevailed: The program caved in on itself. Were US Rail Workers Instructed to Bypass Railcar Safety Inspections? His wife, Chirlane McCray, was given $850 million for a mental health program she was spearheading, The Daily Mail reported. Follow me on Twitter @kwadwo_dost, Ghanaian songstress and actress Hajia4Real. The site said it had tried and failed to acquire a line-item budget from Thrive, and the two budget breakdowns it had seen showed wildly different numbers. Thank you for contacting us. Health Department employees now conduct the eight-hour classes daily at churches, community centers and schools, like this one at Metropolitan College of New York. We did not say everything would be perfect, burbled the co-mayor as if anybody outside his immediate orbit expected an outcome even close to competent. I first saw the story online under the title: "Bill DeBlasio's Wife Reportedly Loses $850 Million of Taxpayer Funds! Things happen. Chirlane McCray can't explain where the $850m in funding has gone after it was given to the organization she runs, ThriveNYC. Mental health first aid classes include discussions and role playing; Ms. McCray implores people to take the course, but has not yet been able to get her husband to do it. And even some experienced in mental health services have been surprised at what the service does not offer. The plan, which includes dozens of discrete programs across 15 city agencies, has undergone two leadership changes in the last year; the most recent saw a top official from the Police Department, Susan Herman, taking charge last month. That Stringer could sleep through it all is the real scandal; why does the city even have a comptroller, if thats the standard of performance? Now we have to shift into another phase.. , updated And while it sounds good to spend heavily on a mental health initiative, it appears that nobody has noticed any real benefits from that investment. Spencer Cox to sign bill banning abortion clinic operations. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion! New York is supposed to be better than that. Chirlane McCray has made her advocacy on behalf of mental health a big part of Thrive, as she seeks to erase the stigma around seeking services. I think its safe to say that Bill DeBlasios presidential prospects are dead in the water before they even started. But she cant get paid, so she is doing it as a volunteer.. Fast-forward to Wednesday, when the City Council was startled to discover that McCray and Team Thrive are closing in on having spent an eye-popping $900 million since the programs inception and nobody seems to have a clue on what. The site said it had tried and failed to acquire a line-item budget from Thrive, and the two budget breakdowns it had seen showed wildly different numbers. Actually, first lady Chirlane McCray works hard for free, her husband Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday, and he is not happy about it. De Blasio cancels high-costing Renewal school program, With opaque budget and elusive metrics, $850M ThriveNYC program attempts a reset, Chirlane McCray's 'Thrive' initiative on track to spend $1B in 5 years. Hajia4Real tops Twitter trends following U.S. jail reports, Sulley Muntari, Agyeman Badu, Asamoah Gyan, others visit Christian Atsus family home, VIDEO: Government will be fully involved in providing Christian Atsu a befitting burial Dr. Bawumia, Christian Atsus mortal remains arrive in Ghana via Turkish Airlines, Maybe I created enemies along the line Kofi Amoabeng on UT Banks collapse, Christian Atsu was one of Ghanas finest personnel Akufo-Addo. During the hearing, Ms. McCray distanced herself from the operations of the program, and left it to Ms. Herman and a budget official to answer many of the more specific questions. Jeffrey Epstein - De Blasio Wife Loses 850 Million - Right Edition https://t.co/oKaowNxGjT #NYC #DeBlasio, Michael E. Newton (@MichaelENewton1) March 1, 2019, What a waste these two are.De Blasio and 'co-mayor' wife have wasted $1.8B of taxpayer money https://t.co/85S88hQUuq via @nypost, MyLivesGoUpTo11 (@AlexStrayCat_) March 1, 2019, Chirlane McCoy (DeBlasio) spends $850 MILLION & can't account for it???? Aides to McCray said, despite the limited format, she typically makes herself available for pull aside interviews at the event. Legal Statement. But this is 2019, and the general feeling at least in the deBlasio administration is that if theres not a lot of dough attached to the spousal sinecure, it doesnt really matter enough. Hey, the family that preys together stays together, right? And while it sounds good to spend heavily on a mental health initiative, it appears that nobody has noticed any real benefits from that investment. .hustle-ui.hustle_module_id_1[data-id="1"] .hustle-layout .hustle-button-cta {width:100%!important;font-size:18px!important;}.hustle-ui.module_id_1 .hustle-popup-content {max-width: 400px!important;}.hustle-group-content p {font-size:18px!important;margin: 24px 0 0!important;}.hustle-content-wrap{padding-bottom:0!important;}, We may receive compensation from affiliate partners for some links on this site. Oh, brother. They sent a whole army of police, said the father, who asked to be referred to only by his first name, Ralph, to protect his sons privacy. To bypass internet censorship, connect with us directly by enabling our notifications (using the red subscription bell in the bottom right corner) or by subscribing to our free daily newsletter. JUST RELEASED: Phone Call To Chinese Manufacturer Requesting a Bulk Classic Video of Donald Trump on Larry King In 1987 Democrats Hiding That John Fetterman is Brain Dead to Prevent Special Election? That the co-mayors could fly under the radar to burn through $1.6 billion to no obvious good effect is an embarrassment but understandable in the abstract. Four years later, no one seems to know what that money was actually used for, according to theNew York Post. In the case of diversion programs, which aim to keep individuals with mental health and substance use problems in treatment instead of jails, Thrive only tracks the number of people released under supervision and those screened during pre-arraignment not if or how city-funded intervention worked. And because Thrive encompasses a variety of initiatives some new, some already in existence across more than a dozen agencies, it is difficult to establish a central, line-item budget delineating how the city is spending taxpayer dollars on the program. But over the course of two years between 2016 and 2018 the hospital screened a little over 28,000 patients and just 570 were offered help, a fraction of the 12,000 to 15,000 who were estimated to need care. The programs at issue ostensibly are meant to assist particularly challenged people the helpless, often homeless, mentally ill and small children whose futures are forfeited because they landed in shamefully nonfunctional schools, an experience from which they will never recover.