In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the establishment of the Office of Community Safety on Thursday, March 19, 2026, marking a pivotal effort to reshape the response to mental health emergencies. The creation of this office aligns with Mamdani's campaign promise to reduce police involvement in non-criminal situations, specifically mental health crises, which he argues has led to tragic outcomes and unnecessary escalations. The office will begin with a modest staff of two as it seeks to transition responsibility for mental health calls away from the police to trained mental health professionals.