Mayor’s Stance on Homeless Encampments Amid Severe Snowstorm

Mayor Zoran Mamdani announced on Monday that the city will not dismantle street encampments, despite the ongoing presence of homeless individuals who have declined shelter offers during New York City’s most severe snowstorm on record.

This recent bomb cyclone poses a significant challenge for Mamdani’s administration, especially following a previous storm in January that resulted in a prolonged crisis, which marked much of his early days in office.

“During a snowstorm, our priority should be the people and ensuring they have safe places to stay, rather than focusing solely on infrastructure,” Mamdani stated at a press conference concerning Winter Storm Hernando.

Critics have expressed concern over what they see as a potentially dangerous approach to dealing with homelessness, especially after a rash of fatalities—19 lives lost—occurred during harsh winter conditions.

Just a week later, Mamdani shifted his position regarding the clearing of encampments, stating that homeless individuals would receive a new seven-day notice before any evacuation.

As the storm brought up to two feet of snow, outreach teams successfully relocated 79 homeless New Yorkers to shelters without enforcing any involuntary evictions, according to Mamdani.

Yet, some individuals still chose to remain in the storm, sleeping on the sidewalk of the Manhattan Bridge, which was evident as the Post observed numerous tents blanketed in snow. Emergency responders arrived on site to check on the occupants’ safety.

One man, when approached, simply shook his head as medics attempted to assist him, expressing his unwillingness to leave his spot.

Despite efforts to reach out in both English and Spanish, he continued to refuse help.

“We can’t force anyone. People have the right to be homeless in New York City,” a paramedic commented.

Officials tried redirecting the occupants of the tents to safer shelters, but some were met with police presence when they could not convince the individual to move.

Out of the 130 homeless people contacted by police, 127 declined shelter, with only two accepting city services.

While city aid workers did not forcibly remove anyone, police did involuntarily relocate one person considered a danger to themselves, according to a police spokeswoman.

Such removals differ from “homeless sweeps,” which involve dismantling encampments. The protocol for involuntary removals is carefully supervised, as a previous winter storm had seen numerous tragedies, with 19 deaths attributed largely to extreme cold.

Officials reported that during the harsh winter period between January 19 and February 10, outreach teams conducted 33 involuntary removals, while police undertook 52.

Mamdani confirmed that there have been no reported fatalities linked to this latest snowstorm, stating, “As of now, there have been no deaths on the streets or in public areas related to this winter explosion.”