The question has been, and remains, why was Rivera on the streets, especially with a long criminal history and severe mental health issues?

Mayor Eric Adams acknowledged Tuesday that the city bears responsibility for a madman’s stabbing spree that left three New Yorkers dead — but said the mental health and justice system failures go deeper.

Ramon Rivera was most recently release from Rikers Island on Oct. 17 after serving two-thirds of a 364-day burglary sentence.