Mamdani Vows to End NYC Homeless Encampment Sweeps in Major Shift from Adams

In yet another clear sign of where New York City is headed under its incoming leadership, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced Thursday that his administration will halt all city-led homeless encampment sweeps starting in January a sharp departure from the policies of outgoing Mayor Eric Adams.

Speaking at a progressive event titled “Hot Chocolate, Frozen Rent” in Manhattan, Mamdani declared that city cleanups of illegal homeless sites would end, stating bluntly: “If you are not connecting homeless New Yorkers to the housing that they so desperately need, then you cannot deem anything you're doing to be a success.”

The move represents a significant shift in how the city addresses the homelessness crisis and not in a good way.

Mamdani’s plan? Stop enforcement. Shift focus to so-called “long-term housing solutions.” That means no more clearing encampments from parks, subways, and sidewalks even as over 45,000 complaints about such camps flooded the city in 2025 alone.

Let’s look at the numbers:

• In a 2023 city audit, only 119 of 2,308 homeless individuals encountered during sweeps accepted shelter.

• Nearly one-third of encampments returned shortly after being cleared.

• Under Adams, the city still managed to place over 3,500 unsheltered individuals in permanent housing by mid-2025.

So, while far from perfect, the existing policies were at least trying to strike a balance between compassion and order. Mamdani’s response? Hand over the streets and hope the problem fixes itself.

The truth is, homelessness in New York has never just been about housing it's also about mental illness, addiction, and criminal activity. Sweeps aren’t just about removing tents; they’re about restoring basic public safety and livability for all residents.

But Mamdani a known supporter of the anti-Israel BDS movement is pushing hard-left ideology over practical governance. His view that homelessness is “a political choice” reflects the kind of radical academic detachment that has made places like San Francisco and Portland national cautionary tales.

And this isn’t Mamdani’s only break from Mayor Adams. Just one day before Mamdani’s comments, Adams signed two executive orders targeting antisemitism and cutting off city support for the BDS movement both of which Mamdani publicly opposes. The new mayor’s priorities are becoming painfully clear.

By refusing to enforce basic standards for public space, Mamdani is sending a message to residents and businesses alike: your safety and quality of life come second to progressive posturing.

This is what happens when cities are run by activists instead of leaders. New York deserves better.

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