Photos by Stacie Joy
Speakers at the rally called for an end to the encampment sweeps ... while providing safe housing for New Yorkers living on the streets.
The rally, which drew 100-plus supporters, took place at the chess tables in the Park's SW corner. Before the event, several people removed the barricades from this space that the NYPD placed here late last summer after clearing out an encampment.
The speakers included Sinthia, one of the unhoused residents who was living on Ninth Street...
The rally came two days after the 7-hour standoff on Ninth Street outside the former P.S. 64 between a group of activists and unhoused residents and reps from several city agencies.
The NYPD eventually arrested seven people while a sanitation crew tossed some of the residents' belongings.
Since then, people have questioned the use of dozens of officers from the NYPD, including members of the Strategic Response Group and the Technical Assistance Response Unit, over four tents.
As CBS 2 reported:
"It was awful, it was stupid, and it was violent," said Helen Strom, director of homeless advocacy for Safety Net Project.Strom also said it was dehumanizing to watch homeless people and advocate in a seven-hour standoff with police and a Sanitation crew looking to clear up their encampment on an East Ninth Street sidewalk."What the mayor should be doing is he should be sending out housing specialists to get people into apartments, instead of spending hundreds of thousands of tax payer money on police," she said. Strom said it was a total waste of resources, since the unhoused individuals refused to go to a shelter, fearing for their safety.
As Politico noted:
The new mayor will face an uphill battle in actually compelling people to leave the streets and go into the city’s shelter system, which is considered unsafe by many who have taken refuge under bridges, on sidewalks and in the subways. Elected officials and advocates for homeless people warn the city lacks capacity to offer people other options, and say the push is an unwelcome return to failed policies of the past.
During an interview yesterday on WNYC's "The Brian Lehrer Show," Adams defended the sweeps," saying "he was working to preserve the 'dignity' of homeless New Yorkers," as Gothamist reported.
"When I looked at some of those encampment sites...I saw people living in human waste," the mayor said. "Drug paraphernalia, no showers, no clean clothing. Living like that — that is not dignified."
During a press conference with clergy members on Thursday, Adams said that the Four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, would have done the same thing.
Yesterday's rally included a march to the former P.S. 64 ... and eventually to Washington Square Park...
Do these people want Manhattan to turn into SF or LA? How many people attended this event? The answer is to improve the shelter system and increase vouchers access not allow street camping. I know plenty of people who have roommates, shared rooms etc. Why are these people entitled to their own studio apartments?
ReplyDeleteHousing is a human right. Damn straight. These are homeless activists and I applaud their tenacity and courageousness in light of the harsh NYPD tactics and our mayor's decision to remove them. They are literally bodies in streets. If the shelters are intolerable and unsafe, then we need to start thinking about other forms of community-based housing RIGHT NOW because the need is only going to get worse. I am, at this very moment, fighting hard for my rent-stabilized lease renewal and I while I realize how lucky I am to have that fight, there is only so long I can keep the real estate vultures at bay. When I lose, I may very well join this particular fight. We need other forms of housing, not just all of this emphasis on "luxury".
ReplyDeleteHousing is a human right. Damn straight. Absolutely. But who said everyone need to live in Manhattan, or NYC for that matter? If I won't be able to afford my apartment, which was almost the case during the last two years, I will move to a more affordable place.
DeleteExactly! Yes, give these people homes but it doesn't need to be in NYC and it sure as hell should not be tents on the streets. I can't believe these people focus on defending encampments instead of a million better options.
DeleteI'm glad people are speaking out against the lunancy that has led to so many problems in SF
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ReplyDeleteTHIS MAYOR IS USING A PAGE FROM A PLAYBOOK OF THE PAST - THAT OF EX-MAYOR GHOULIANI
Correct, and for a long time there were no people living in the streets, and less crime. I hate Guiliani more than you can imagine, but not for this reason.
DeleteThere has never been a time in literally the history of the city of New York when some number of people weren’t living in the streets. Or, perhaps, woods at some earlier time. But, as for the nineties you pine for being a period of no homelessness, then you weren’t here or you have no memory. I will say Giuliani did disappear a lot of homeless by buying bus tickets out of town for them if I remember correctly. My father was very upset when they started arriving in his city in Pennsylvania.
DeleteWho’s park our park it’s going to be a hot time this summer
ReplyDeleteSquat Charas now !!!!!
ReplyDeleteTo all the nimbys out there: Why shouldn't this new affordable housing and/or community-based housing be in NYC? Why can't we lead the country in this regard instead of just saying to our neighbors that they do not have the "privilege" of living here when (some, like myself) have lived here for decades and have known NYC as home more than any other place?
ReplyDelete"I can't believe these people focus on defending encampments instead of a million better options."
ReplyDeleteThose "million better options" have not been forthcoming. Jesus. You can see LITERALLY ON THE SIGNS IN THE PICTURES FOR THIS POST that people are advocating for better options. But right now those encampments are all that some people have. Destroying them and the meager possessions they contain will not make their lives better in any way.
The hypocrisy of some here, and our mayor, is disgusting.
rarely see people asking for change now - it was out of control in 2020.
ReplyDeleteI reside in Alphabet City and pay around $2300 for my studio apartment. I am an educated male professional who lives alone. Considering how others pay far less in other states and cities domestically for mortgages rather than exorbitant urban rent, I often wonder if remaining in Manhattan is worth it given the rising costs. I find it heartbreaking how NYC, the largest, the most liberal, and the most federally funded US city with an a seemingly endless well of public and social welfare has failed to do more for its citizens, especially during a housing, employment and mental health crisis, not to mention a pandemic which has not ceased.
ReplyDeleteOur new mayor thus far is a clown. Worse than DeBlassio. I don't see him conveying empathy, understanding nor compassion for the displaced or for the homeless communities. He appears to be a poser incapable of accepting blame and responsibility for the soaring crime both in the subways and on the street. NYC is facing enormous issues. Where is he? Going to a concert. Attending movie premieres. Posing with celebrities. Telling others to adopt a vegan lifestyle. Assigning blame to everyone but not to himself in an arrogant, smug tone. Not a great beginning for someone who just began a mere few months ago. FYI. I never voted for this guy because I knew how terrible he would be.
Encampments are breeding grounds for criminal activity and violence. Who wants to pay a few thousand dollars for an apartment only to cross the street to be met with mayhem, human feces and syringes on the sidewalk? There have been many discussions on a similar thread on EV grieve pertaining to others whom were homeless in their tents living on 7th Street between Ave A and B. Some whom I vaguely knew who were drug addicts and bi polar. I became aware most refused help, mental counseling, support, medications. housing vouchers, applications for food stamps, and other services. None of us can coerce or enforce anyone to accept or receive assistance to become rehabilitated and/or stable in a safe living situation. I am also not implying that every homeless person is either mentally ill or on drugs. I am certain many would like to access HASA and the plethora of benefits they offer but aren't aware or don't know how. I, like others, also don't want our neighborhood, and the rest of NYC to resemble much of LA and SF has become.
Given how many vacant spaces remain in midtown and downtown, wouldn't it be logical to consider making some of those empty properties a destination for the homeless? For those of whom are transitioning to stability or why not just offer affordable housing units seeing as a majority of corporate and private offices aren't returning. I am unsure with the actual percentage of those whom have returned to the physical workforce here in NYC, but I know the numbers are low, and will continue because companies are realizing they can save money on rent and staffing if a majority of their workers are remote. Mayor Adams needs to be more resourceful and assertive if he wishes to address this overwhelming issue. I sympathize with the plight of those who want a place to rest their head without the worry of being attacked or assaulted. Every human deserves a clean, decent place to live. The only question remains is how we can reallocate resources to address homelessness, even better how we can get Adams or Hochul to admit the enormity of this growing problem where these individuals are treated with kindness, and hopefully, a way out of this nightmare they are in.
"The only question remains is how we can reallocate resources to address homelessness, even better how we can get Adams or Hochul to admit the enormity of this growing problem where these individuals are treated with kindness, and hopefully, a way out of this nightmare they are in."
ReplyDeleteWell said 12.30 PM.
The real question is why are these people homeless in the first place. Answer that and then you can start to figure out a solution. But having homeless encampments is not the right way, nor it is a human right. Shelters are available. Jobs are available. All kinds of social assistance is available. It's time for local residents to ensure our streets are safe for our elderly and our children.
ReplyDeleteas a person who has had a family member experience homelessness i can tell you it is traumatic to live in a tent or on the streets. encampments are not the answer and i second converting spaces left empty during covid into aptartments and housing- but the main issue is it cannot be communal, has to be more like old school SROs. The issue with communal spaces is that criminals and junkies get lumped into spaces with others and that's why no one wants to stay in shelters. would you? separate the junkies to a proper rehab, get those desperately in need of mental health assistance to an assisted living facility and help the other people to get vouchers for affordable housing. tents on the streets are both unsustainable and a health hazard, and dangerous for both the people living in them and the community. the short term solution of temporary communal shelters has been proven not to work, and so have encampments. people must face this reality, if you really want to help people improve their situations and you're not just creating talking points.
ReplyDeleteNote to people demonstrating against removal of the homeless: having people living on the street is neither the answer nor is it humane.
ReplyDelete