Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Friday a sweeping plan to deploy teams of police officers and social workers into New York City’s subway, pledging to remove homeless people who shelter on trains and platforms, some of whom have contributed to escalating violence in the system. — The New York Times
According to the new plan, the police will have a direct mandate to enforce rules against lying down, sleeping, occupying more than one seat, littering, aggressive behavior towards riders, smoking, and open drug use. In addition, mental health professionals with the power to order involuntary hospitalization of people they deem a danger to themselves or others will be mobilized.
“No more just doing whatever you want,” said Mayor Adams at a press conference at the Fulton Street subway stop Friday morning. “No, those days are over…The system was not made to be housing, it’s made to be transportation.” The measures come following a spike in violent crime in the transit system, with riders saying it has led them to avoid the subway.
As noted by The New York Times, the plan lacked details on where evicted homeless individuals would immediately go. There was also little information on the cost of the plan and how it would be paid for.
6 Comments
“The plan lacked details on where the homeless people would immediately go” is it really a plan, then? Or is it press release intended to make people think there actually *is* a safety net? Cuz there’s not.
Doesn't sound like there is. I think something should be done for the safety of passengers - and the MTA would like more riders for its own interests - but if this ends up sending the homeless population from the subway to the streets, then it's really a half-baked policy. The danger of being murdered on the tracks is reduced, if that's the main goal.
Mayor Adams is a capital C -unt.
it’s freezing outside, and that’s cruel. How about leaving them alone, and providing social workers to patrol stations and do wellness checks. There is usually a long build up to being a Violent mentality Ill homeless person. That process can be interrupted.
So, what alternative social support services are they providing? Certainly, they must have something in mind and are not just kicking the poor saps out onto the streets with nothing.
I believe it is called "Out of Sight Out of Mind".
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