In a recent exploration of New York City's subway system, renowned television personality Dr. Phil and NYC Mayor Eric Adams witnessed firsthand the unpredictability of interactions with the city's homeless population.
The visit followed the acquittal of Marine veteran Daniel Penny and aimed to shed light on the safety concerns of New Yorkers using public transportation.
According to Fox News, Mayor Adams emphasized the significance of the subway system to the city's economy, stating, "This is the lifeblood of our economy because it's the great equalizer." He further highlighted the importance of safety, asserting that not only should people be safe, but they must also feel safe. "The omnipresence of a police uniform just sends a signal," he added.
During their tour, Dr. Phil and Adams encountered a homeless man sleeping in a subway station hallway, which Adams referred to as a "perfect example" of the challenges faced. A sergeant explained the process of checking in with the individual, which typically begins with a Department of Home Services (DHS) worker. However, Adams noted the necessity for police presence, stating, "because this person could wake up, if he schizophrenic or bipolar, he could wake up with a weapon."
The situation quickly escalated as the homeless man began shouting profanities at the DHS worker and aggressively confronting the officers. Adams used this incident to illustrate how rapidly such encounters can turn violent, a reality he believes is often overlooked by those discussing the homeless crisis. "I believe, thats what the people who are pushing back on what were doing-they dont know how quick this could change," Adams said.
The mayor also acknowledged the man's claim of being an American citizen who was not being taken care of, pointing to the costly nature of managing the city's homeless and migrant crises. "If we had $6.5 billion we could do more, but instead of that we had to deal with a national problem," he told Dr. Phil, referring to the city's responsibility of managing 220,000 migrants.
Adams further clarified that the migrant crisis extends beyond Sanctuary City laws and is often mistakenly conflated with the state constitution's rules. "The city states that anyone, if theyre documented or undocumented, that if you need a place to stay, housing, we have to give you housing, by our state constitution," he said, referring to the "right to shelter" rule.
Brian Stettin, deputy mayor for health and human services, added, "The right to shelter was never conceived with the migrant crisis in mind." This statement underscores the complexity of the issues at hand, and the urgent need for effective solutions to ensure the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers.
Login