Father of “Ice Pick Nick” Grateful His Son is Behind Bars for the Safety of the Community

**The Troubled Life of “Ice Pick Nick” and the Impact on His Father and Community**

**Decades of Terror in the East Village**

Nicholas Babilonia Jr., also known as “Ice Pick Nick,” has long been a source of fear and concern in the East Village community. Recently, he was finally arrested for allegedly threatening and attacking residents in his childhood neighborhood. One incident involved an ice pick and a sexagenarian dog walker. On other occasions, he assaulted locals, only to be released from Bellevue Hospital within days. His reign of terror has left the community feeling unsafe and vulnerable.

**A Troubled Past and Failed Interventions**

Nicholas Babilonia Jr.’s father, Nicholas Babilonia Sr., expressed his gratitude that his son is now behind bars. He believes that being locked up is saving his son’s life. However, he acknowledges that he tried to help his son in the past, providing him with money and taking him to church. Unfortunately, his son’s struggles in school, dropping out, and running away after their divorce contributed to his downward spiral.

**Failures of the Mental Health and Criminal Justice Systems**

Babilonia Sr. places blame on the city and state for failing to provide adequate support and care for individuals like his son. He believes that placing the mentally ill in long-term psychiatric programs or behind bars would keep them off the streets and protect both themselves and the community. He criticizes the revolving doors of the mental health and criminal justice systems, stating that they are putting New Yorkers’ lives at risk.

**Repeat Offenders with Mental Illness**

Babilonia Jr. is not alone in his pattern of violence and mental illness. Several other repeat offenders with mental health issues have recently attacked innocent people on the city’s streets. Shaquan Cummings and Cyril Destin are among those who have caused harm without warning. Carolyn Gorman, a policy analyst specializing in mental illness, points to mental health policy and the reluctance towards involuntary treatment as contributing factors to these incidents.

**Efforts to Address the Crisis**

Despite the challenges, there have been efforts to address the issue of mental illness and public safety. The Adams administration has made strides in expanding the city’s ability to involuntarily commit severely ill individuals. Mayor Adams has celebrated the removal of mentally ill individuals from the streets through involuntary hospitalization measures. Additionally, state legislation introduced by Assemblyman Ed Braunstein aims to extend hospital stays for involuntarily committed mentally ill individuals.

**Conclusion**

The story of “Ice Pick Nick” sheds light on the failures of the mental health and criminal justice systems in providing adequate support and protection for individuals with mental illness. It also highlights the impact on families, such as Nicholas Babilonia Sr., who feel helpless in their attempts to help their loved ones. Efforts to address the crisis are underway, but more needs to be done to ensure the safety of both individuals with mental illness and the communities they reside in.