The Post’s report on the fetid homeless camps springing up on Manhattan’s far West Side, near the Intrepid Museum, is the latest result of a heartless policy from Mayor Mamdani.
Before taking office, Mamdani vowed to reverse the policy of his predecessor, Eric Adams, saying he would no longer dismantle such camps and force occupants into shelters.
He couched his “holier than thou” argument in claims that Adams’ policy lacked compassion because it did not always provide permanent housing or social services.
The first fatal results of the change came last winter, when at least 20 people froze to death on city streets. So that’s compassion?
The summer casualties include West Side residents and businesses disgusted and afraid of the encampments taking over their sidewalks.
On the other hand, a man who lives in one of the filthy camps identified himself as Markus C. to The Post. He declared that “Mamdani is awesome” because there are no police sweeps.
That’s not a coincidence. In an interview before he left office, Adams told me most people did not understand how much power a mayor has.
He said the NYPD would have to obey if Mamdani ordered police not to make misdemeanor arrests for public drug dealing and prostitution and not to roust homeless encampments.
At the time, City Hall said it had dismantled more than 18,000 camps during Adams’ tenure.
Most removals came after residents and businesses called 311 to complain, with the city saying it received more than 100,000 such calls in Adams’ last two years.
New Yorkers who are fed up now can’t say they weren’t warned.
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