New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced on the 4th that he plans to completely halt the clearing of homeless encampments once he takes office. He criticized the policy implemented by Eric Adams since 2022 as both expensive and ineffective. Mamdani’s upcoming measures have raised concerns among former senior officials of the New York City Police Department, who believe that this move will lead to a significant increase in tent encampments on the streets.
Mamdani stated at a press conference in Manhattan on the 4th that clearing tent encampments cannot be considered successful if homeless individuals are not provided with much-needed housing. He emphasized that the new administration will focus on assisting vulnerable populations to secure permanent housing, including supportive housing or regular rental housing. He believes that homelessness is not an inevitable outcome of city life but rather a result of policy choices.
However, Mamdani did not present a solution to the increasing complaints about tent encampments on Thursday. As of November this year, the New York City 311 hotline has received over 45,000 related reports.
Upon taking office, Adams made the clearance of tent encampments a priority, pointing out that temporary tents had appeared in parks, around schools, and even along highways, posing safety risks that should not be tolerated. However, a report released by New York City Comptroller Brad Lander’s office in June 2023 indicated that about 95% of affected homeless individuals returned to the streets shortly after being displaced, casting doubts on the effectiveness of Adams’ policy.
Adams’ administration refuted these criticisms. The mayor’s spokesperson, Fabien Levy, issued a statement on the 4th, stating that the actions to clear tents and relocate homeless individuals have helped over 500 people secure stable and safe housing. Additionally, New York City still maintains the lowest rate of street homelessness among major cities in the United States.
Mamdani’s policy changes have drawn the attention of former high-ranking police officials who prioritize public safety. Former Chief of the New York City Police Department, John Chell, wrote on X platform on the 5th (Friday): “Under current laws, you generally cannot force individuals into shelters – and most will refuse services. Outreach services do not guarantee acceptance. Terminating street intervention programs without establishing sufficient housing and improving shelter and treatment capacities is not policy, it’s a gamble.”
He added, “The relevant resources must be established first and implemented with clear guidelines. Otherwise, the foreseeable outcome will be a significant increase in tent encampments, deteriorating street conditions, and severe impacts on the quality of life in all communities.”
Chell criticized that Mamdani’s proposed direction seems more like a political slogan rather than a policy that can be implemented. He stated, “We don’t have time for experiments.”
The issue of homelessness has plagued New York City in recent years and has been a focal point of concern for both voters and the media at the beginning of a new mayor’s term. Mamdani emphasized that the true measure of success should be based on whether people can be assisted in obtaining housing. Homelessness has long been a challenge for several mayors of New York City, and a simple solution has yet to be found.