Curtis Sliwa Raises Concerns Over NYC Shelter System Amidst Mayoral Policy Shift
Former New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa has voiced significant concerns regarding the city's shelter system, particularly in the context of current Mayor Zohran Mamdani's policies. Sliwa asserts that many homeless individuals avoid city shelters due to fears of being victimized, including theft of their belongings, sexual abuse, and physical harassment. This statement comes as Mayor Mamdani's administration has adopted a less aggressive approach to clearing homeless encampments compared to the previous administration. While the Mamdani administration frames this as a more humane strategy focused on connecting individuals with services, critics like Sliwa argue that it allows dangerous and unsanitary encampments to persist and fails to address the underlying reasons why homeless people distrust the shelter system. The Department of Homeless Services now leads efforts to address encampments, requiring daily visits and service offers for a week before clearing, a stark contrast to the previous pol...
