Jacobson Calls For Anti-Suicide Fencing

PEEKSKILL – Joining his legislative colleagues in Peekskill last Thursday, Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (D-104), called on the New York State Bridge Authority (NYSBA) to approve funding for suicide prevention fencing on all of its bridges at its next meeting on Thursday, September 21.

“September is National Suicide Prevention Month, but it’s not enough to wear purple and express support for suicide prevention one month out of the year. We must take concrete steps every day to reduce suicides, including installing climb-deterrent fencing on all of the bridges managed by the New York State Bridge Authority,” said Jacobson.

“There is no excuse for the NYSBA not to act. It has already completed engineering studies concerning the fencing. All studies have shown that this type of fencing is effective in deterring suicide attempts” said Jacobson.

Jacobson’s district includes two of the busiest bridges, the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge and the Mid-Hudson (Poughkeepsie) Bridge as well as the Walkway Over the Hudson which does not allow motor vehicles. Other bridges run by the NYSBA are the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge and the Rip Van Winkle Bridge