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Nothing About the Penn Station Slashing Is Normal

Normalizing mental illness-related violence lets public leaders avoid accountability.

On Sunday, at least five people were hospitalized after a seriously mentally ill suspect with a criminal record reportedly went on a “frenzied” slashing spree at Penn Station. The incident comes exactly one month after another mentally ill repeat offender was arrested for allegedly pushing an elderly man down the subway steps, killing him, mere hours after being released from a hospital psych evaluation.

This latest tragedy won’t be the last. Violence linked to untreated serious mental illness has become increasingly normalized in New York. That acceptance is letting city leaders escape accountability for their failure to address the situation.

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