It seems they’ve found a way to tap into the city’s resources.
The unhoused individuals living in makeshift encampments along Manhattan’s West Side have connected to the city’s utility lines, furthering concerns as these camps take over the area.
Recently, at a temporary shelter on 34th Street between 11th and 12th Streets—part of a larger encampment stretching 12 blocks near the Intrepid Museum—this brazen act was yet another eyesore for tourists and local residents alike.
“It’s been almost a month now and every time I come back it gets a little bigger,” noted a driver for Flixbus. He added that the situation is becoming increasingly inconvenient, with trash piling on sidewalks, forcing bus passengers to wait in the street.
The driver remarked, “They’re asking for money from people who are waiting for the bus. That’s no good. My boss called and complained, but nothing seems to change.”
While NYPD officers are present in the area, their ability to intervene is limited due to an order from Mayor Zoran Mamdani instructing the city’s Homeless Services to handle the issue, rather than the police.
On Tuesday, some officers did try to address the situation, instructing a person who had been using utility power to unplug their setup, while others confiscated surge protectors and extension cords from another camp at 36th Street and Hudson Boulevard.
However, these actions seem unlikely to produce any long-term solutions.
Mamdani appears unfazed by the rising complaints about the encampments. He stated, “We’re focused on connecting New Yorkers to shelter and establishing a pipeline to stable housing, not just moving them from one place to another.” He mentioned looking into the encampment details raised in recent discussions.
Nevertheless, no sanitation or outreach workers have been spotted in the area since the situation was first reported last Friday.
As the days go by, more tents and shelters are emerging from 34th Street to 46th Street, now housing even more individuals, including those involved in sex work and struggling with addiction.
