In the countdown to the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, candidate and former governor Andrew Cuomo held a rally in Times Square, Manhattan on Tuesday, June 17th, attracting around 2,500 members of construction unions and union leaders to show their support, demonstrating his popularity among the working class. At the same time, Cuomo addressed issues of concern to the Chinese community, particularly regarding the homeless situation on 86th Street in Brooklyn.
The rally for Cuomo saw many union members dressed in their distinctive attire, holding up banners. Some attending leaders expressed disappointment with the current city government’s policies and hoped for new leadership that could bring stability and protection for workers.
Cuomo, in his speech at the gathering, underscored the various challenges facing New York City in terms of public safety, housing, and quality of life. He emphasized that if elected mayor, he would strive to hire 5,000 additional police officers within 30 days of taking office, raise the minimum wage, assist the homeless and those with mental health needs in finding appropriate housing, and expedite the approval process for affordable housing construction. “We must ensure that approvals no longer hinder development projects, allowing housing supply to meet market demand, truly addressing the issue of high rent,” Cuomo stated.
Responding to controversy surrounding the selection of locations for supportive housing and homeless shelters, our reporter asked about Cuomo’s proposal to allocate $2.6 billion over the next five years to construct at least 600 units of supportive housing annually for homeless individuals with mental illness or substance abuse issues, and whether this plan would distribute these facilities evenly across communities as former Mayor Bloomberg’s “Turning the Tide” initiative did.
Cuomo’s campaign team emphasized that their plan differs from homeless shelters and focuses on “supportive housing.” These units are normal apartments equipped with kitchens and bathrooms, with around 10-30% having support services provided by social service organizations. These are not temporary shelters, but long-term housing, and do not have institutional characteristics. Cuomo stated, “We should actively assist individuals with severe mental illnesses in receiving treatment – including involuntary treatment if necessary – rather than placing them in shelters that lack resources and protections.”
In relation to the contentious proposed project at 2501 Benson Avenue, Brooklyn on 86th Street, where the local Chinese community has long opposed the establishment of a men’s homeless shelter, Cuomo’s camp responded to rumors that the location might be converted into a mental health service facility by saying, “Cuomo believes that in selecting sites for homeless facilities, we should listen to and respect the community’s concerns about public safety. As mayor, he will address all public safety issues and carefully consider these concerns when choosing shelters or other affordable housing projects that affect the community.”
The Cuomo team also added that, according to media reports, the proposed homeless shelter at 2501 Benson Avenue on 86th Street is designed like a hotel, tailored for single adult males, and is distinctly different from supportive housing with individual living spaces, making it unsuitable for use as supportive housing.