"The deaths of New Yorkers on our streets in the last frigid week are tragic – no matter their causes of death, it is heartbreaking to know that our neighbors lost their lives out in the cold, and to think that something could have been done to prevent it. There needs to be a full accounting for what led to these losses, and expanded efforts to provide government support that helps ensure future pain is prevented – which my office is pushing for and which it seems the administration is pursuing. Unfortunately some are using the deaths of our fellow New Yorkers for bad-faith political and policy attacks.
"Clearing so-called 'encampments' as the past administration did, taking a person’s only possessions does nothing to ensure them warmth, protection, or permanent housing. These were policies born from a viewpoint that the homelessness crisis was about having to see it, not having to solve it. No evidence suggests that the New Yorkers we’ve lost were part of 'encampments' or would have been helped by removing one.
"I assume the loudest voices weaponizing these deaths will also now join in speaking out for expansions in supportive and deeply affordable housing and increased services for New Yorkers, instead of putting more effort into exploiting New Yorkers in death than they supported them in life."