Mayor Adams Faces Pushback From Advocates For Homeless After Unveiling Subsequent Part Of Subway Security Plan

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Mayor Eric Adams on Friday unveiled an aggressive plan to take away all homeless individuals from the transit system.

The announcement follows an increase in subway crimes, however the mayor instantly bumped into opposition from advocates for the homeless, CBS2’s Marcia Kramer reported.

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“It’s crucial that now we have the fitting response that has the mix of being humane however clear,” Adams mentioned. “We’re going to make sure that worry will not be New York’s actuality.”

The issue of the homeless on the subways — sleeping on trains, urinating on platforms, bringing purchasing carts of belongings — have bedeviled mayors for many years.

“The system will not be made to be housing. It’s made to be transportation, and now we have to return again to that fundamental philosophy,” Adams mentioned.

Mayor Adams, a former transit captain, is simply not going to place up with it anymore. He’s sending his cops and groups of outreach employees to take away them ASAP.

WATCH: Adams, Hochul Announce Subsequent Part Of Subway Security Plan 

“The subway plan is a complete civic technique that may do greater than cope with a brief repair. You possibly can’t put a Band Assist on a cancerous sore, that isn’t the way you clear up the issue. You should take away the most cancers and begin the therapeutic course of,” Adams mentioned.

Adams mentioned he’ll begin by requiring police to strictly implement transit guidelines, akin to:

• Sleeping throughout a number of seats
• Exhibiting aggressive conduct
• Creating an unsanitary atmosphere

Cops may also demand that the homeless go away the practice on the finish of the road.

“We acquired so used to being dysfunctional that it grew to become the normality. Effectively I’m not a dysfunctional mayor and I don’t fake that an issue doesn’t exist,” Adams mentioned.

Watch John Dias’s Report

The plan, introduced collectively with Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA head Janno Lieber, contains deploying 30 joint response groups to attempt to persuade the homeless and mentally sick to just accept assist.

As CBS2’s Ali Bauman reviews, the state may also make investments almost $40 million to open 500 supportive housing beds and 600 psychiatric beds within the hopes that hospitals will admit extra psych sufferers.

“And once we overcome that barrier, the hole between psychiatric and non-psychiatric beds and make it nearer, that creates the fitting incentive to say, sure, let’s get them stuffed with the individuals who want essentially the most assist,” Hochul mentioned.

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And there will likely be one thing else. Officers mentioned there will likely be a “reinterpretation” of state legal guidelines that may permit them to maintain individuals in hospitals even when they could not need assist by saying they’re an imminent hazard to themselves.

“Now we have to set a typical that’s clear that people who find themselves residing on the subway, who don’t have any residence or don’t have any technique to feed themselves, no technique to dress themselves, that these individuals are at risk to themselves. It’s a urgent, eminent hazard,” mentioned NYC Well being + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz.

The brand new push comes as subway crime has skyrocketed. There have been 276 instances of homicide, rape, theft, assault, housebreaking and grand larceny in 2022 to date, in comparison with 167 final yr.

It additionally comes after 40-year-old businesswoman Michelle Go was killed in January. Go was pushed in entrance of an oncoming practice in Instances Sq. by an emotionally disturbed man.

Watch Marcia Kramer’s Report

The Coalition for the Homeless referred to as Adams’ remarks “sickening” and his plan “a repeat of failed methods.”

“It’s troubling {that a} mayor in such a big metropolis would use phrases like disgusting or most cancers to discuss with his homeless constituents. These are human beings who deserve care and respect and dignity,” Jacquelyn Simone mentioned.

“We’re very involved that it overly depends on criminalization and policing methods to handle what’s basically a housing and psychological well being disaster,” Simone added.

WEB EXTRA: Click on right here for a better have a look at the subway security plan

The mayor insists enforcement is not going to be heavy-handed.

“We’re not saying should you break a minor infraction that we’re going to place handcuffs on you. We’re going to right the situations,” Adams mentioned.

Many, together with Lisa Daglian of the Everlasting Residents Advisory Committee to the MTA, help the plan. Daglian referred to as it a “holistic method” that addresses legitimate security issues riders and transit employees expertise underground.

The plan can also be supported by Transit Union President Tony Utano.

The brand new program to get the homeless off the road begins Monday. Police will deal with the A, E, 1, 2, N and R strains.

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CBS2’s John Dias and Marcia Kramer contributed to this report. Editor’s observe: This story was first printed Feb. 18.