The City Council declined to comment on Cabrera taking over the mental health office and whether the mayor agrees with Cabrera’s position on same-sex marriage. The former council member did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
His possible appointment has raised concerns.
“This is the most outrageously homophobic appointment I have ever witnessed in my entire history in the movement,” said Allen Roskoff, a veteran gay rights activist and president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club. “Putting a vile, homophobic fanatic in charge of mental health is an insult to all members of the LGBTQ community. It would be akin to appointing David Duke to head the B’nai B’rith,” he said of the American neo-Nazi and international Jewish service group.
Youth who identify as part of the LGBTQ community are 120 percent more likely experiencing homelessness and seeking mental health services from the city.
Thrive became a political issue for the de Blasio administration following reports that the $1 billion program had few metrics to track results and spending.
Following public pushback, McCray and Herman turned Thrive around to focus on people with serious mental illness and ways the NYPD could connect people living on the streets with care. Before leaving office, de Blasio coded the Office of Community Mental Health in the City Charter to remain a permanent part of city government.
Gary Belkin, who designed the original Thrive program and declined to comment on Cabrera’s anticipated appointment, said the mental health effort should “go back to its original intent of reaching out to communities to do mental health where they live.”
“This is a mayor who has spoken eloquently about the government’s need to step in and move forward,” he said. “I hope we don’t slide down the river just because of a mental health focus.”
Immediately after POLITICO broke the news of the long-awaited appointment, LGBTQ groups unilaterally condemned Adams for considering Cabrera. Groups such as Equality New York petitioned against the possible appointment, and openly gay politicians such as state Sen. Brad Hoylman and former Council President Christine Quinn spoke out against Cabrera.
“As an LGBTQIA elected official, I would be outraged if the mayor of New York City, the world capital of tolerance and multiculturalism, appointed an outspoken homophobe to any position in city government.” Hoylman tweeted Thursday afternoon.
Within hours, the City Council confirmed that Cabrera would not be taking command of the mental health office.
Joe Anuta contributed to this report.
