Sliwa; No one who comes to visit New York should walk in fear - offers apology to family and Filipino countrymen of the nurse in tragic times square death
As a New Yorker whose life was saved by Filipino Nurses who cared for him inside the ICU at Belview hospital after he was shot multiple times Curtis Sliwa, says he apologizes not just to the family and friends of Maria Ambrocio, but also to all Filipinos and all who come to New York City and should not be in fear coming to one of the worlds financial and global governance capitols. NYC is home to the United Nations, no one should be in fear or be scared while here for a visit or business. Curtis Sliwa who has had multiple years of dealing with those left abandoned and he calls lost souls on the streets the emotionally disturbed and sometimes even violently psychotic, Many of whom are left to their selves on the streets, not treated or medicated and adding to already volitile and crime-ridden city that has seen violence surge and thousands of criminals let go with little or no penalty. This emboldens those who are desperate - like the emotionally deranged or demented homeless to commit acts they would never do when police are allowed to arrest and detain those who pose a danger to themselves and others.
Meanwhile, PH government has reacted in a statement
We grieve with the rest of the Filipino Community over the death of our kababayan, Maria Ambrocio, a 58-year-old health frontliner from Bayonne, New Jersey, who is the latest victim of deranged individuals on the loose in New York City.
Maria’s passing was announced shortly after she was removed from life support a few hours ago. She had been on life support for the head trauma she sustained on Friday afternoon after she was knocked down by someone who was described as a mentally disturbed homeless man.
Maria was walking with a kababayan near Times Square after visiting the Philippine Consulate General when she was struck by the suspect who was reportedly being chased after grabbing a mobile phone from someone.
The incident is the latest in the series of violent acts committed by mentally-ill individuals against members of the Filipino Community in New York City since the start of the year.
Beginning January, we have seen several of our kababayan, most of them senior citizens, violently assaulted by individuals with mental health issues.
We have joined calls for authorities to take the necessary steps, including heightened police visibility, to protect the public after we noted the surge in anti-Asian hate incidents that targeted some of our kababayan.
We also supported calls for authorities to take the necessary measures to address mental health issues, especially among the homeless.
We reiterate these calls as we mourn our loss but we also ask ourselves: How many more Maria Ambrocios do we have to mourn before the streets would be made safe again?