A new decision in New York City is making big waves — and not in a good way. Zohran Mamdani, the incoming mayor, says he’s going to stop the city’s homeless encampment sweeps. That means people living in tents or makeshift shelters on sidewalks, parks, and under bridges won’t be forced to leave anymore. Some say this is a kind move. Others say it’s a big mistake that could make life harder for everyone in the city.
Let’s break down what this really means and why people are talking about it.
Since March 2022, the city has cleared more than 18,000 homeless encampments. These sweeps were done under outgoing Mayor Eric Adams. His team believed the sweeps were necessary to keep streets clean and help the people living in dangerous conditions. Adams said, “Leaving people to suffer in the cold isn’t just neglectful – it’s a disgrace.” His point is simple: letting people sleep outside in freezing weather isn’t helping them. It’s putting them in danger.
Many experts agree. John Chell, who used to be the NYPD’s Chief of Department, warned that ending the sweeps could lead to more “shanty towns” popping up around the city. He said if the city doesn’t offer real help like housing, mental health care, or addiction treatment, then simply stopping the sweeps isn’t a plan — it’s a gamble.
In other words, Chell is saying that kindness without a plan isn’t really kindness at all.
But Mamdani sees it differently. He argues that the sweeps haven’t actually helped homeless people find permanent housing. He believes that if people are just moved from one street corner to another without getting real help, it’s not solving the problem. So he wants to stop the sweeps entirely.
The problem is, Mamdani hasn’t said what he will do instead. He hasn’t shared a clear plan for how the city will help the homeless find homes, shelters, or treatment. Without that, critics worry that this move could backfire — badly.
GOP Councilwoman Vickie Paladino was blunt about what she thinks. She said leaving homeless encampments in place could damage the city’s “civility.” That’s a strong word, but it reflects a real concern. If more people are living on sidewalks, in subway stations, or in parks, how will that affect families, workers, and tourists? What happens to public safety? What about sanitation?
Let’s be honest — homelessness is a very hard problem to solve. It’s not just about giving someone a bed for the night. Many people living on the streets are also dealing with addiction, mental illness, or past trauma. Some don’t trust the system enough to accept help when it’s offered. So just building more shelters doesn’t always work. But doing nothing can’t be the answer either.
That’s what makes this policy change so risky. Mamdani says he wants to be more compassionate. That’s a good goal. But real compassion means making sure people are safe, warm, and on the path to a better life — not just letting them stay in tents in the cold.
Mayor Adams faced criticism too, because his sweeps didn’t lead to big gains in permanent housing. But at least his team was trying to remove people from dangerous outdoor living situations. The new plan, or lack of one, seems to be simply letting things happen without much direction.
New Yorkers have every right to worry. A city can’t function if sidewalks turn into campsites and public spaces become unsafe. The people living in those encampments deserve real help. But so do the families walking their kids to school, the elderly trying to get to a doctor, and the small business owners trying to keep their shops open.
In the end, this isn’t just about tents on sidewalks. It’s about what kind of city New York wants to be — and whether leaders like Mamdani are ready to deal with the real problems, not just talk about them.