New York AG faces pushback as Times Square stabbing shifts mental‑health policy debate

New York Attorney General Letitia James faces Republican criticism after announcing a legally required, police-involved death probe linked to a Times Square stabbing; GOP candidate Saritha Komatireddy argues the case highlights a broader mental‑health crisis and calls for a new Office of Civil Commitment that would pair police with physicians to keep dangerous individuals from the street, while James’ office emphasizes the investigation is required under state law and Mayor Mamdani praised the responding officers amid concerns about treatment gaps for mentally ill individuals.