Meat Cleaver attacks in Brooklyn

 **Editorial: A Brooklyn Tragedy and the Urgent Need for Mental Health Reform**

The recent attack in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, in which a man wielding a meat cleaver assaulted four young girls, including his own nieces, is not only a horrific act of violence—it is a wake-up call. The brutality of the event, carried out in a place meant to be safe—a family home—shocks the conscience. That one of the children, just 11 years old, had the courage to call 911 during the chaos is a testament to the human spirit in its most vulnerable form.

But behind the horror lies a deeper issue: the unchecked mental health crisis that continues to simmer beneath the surface in New York City. The suspect, 49-year-old Long Qian Chen, had no apparent criminal record, yet he committed an act of such grotesque violence that police were forced to shoot him when he refused to drop the weapon.

This is not simply a crime story. It is a symptom of a larger failure.

New York has long struggled with providing adequate mental health services, particularly for immigrant families and underserved communities. Language barriers, stigma, lack of access, and underfunding all contribute to a system that far too often lets people slip through the cracks until it’s too late. This incident did not happen in a vacuum. And unless we confront the systemic issues behind it, it won’t be the last of its kind.

Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams have both pledged to tackle mental illness, homelessness, and public safety. But pledges are not enough. We need investment—real dollars, not just headlines. We need outreach programs in every borough, early intervention strategies in schools, and culturally competent therapists who can work within the communities they serve.

The four girls who survived this attack will carry emotional scars far beyond the physical. They deserve a city that learns from tragedy, not just mourns it. Let this be the moment we finally say: no more. Let this be the moment where policy meets compassion—and action follows.

Because if we can’t protect children in their own home, we have failed them all.

— *Frederick Brown, Contributor*  

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