NYC Homeless To Cuomo: Housing, Not Mandated Shelter Round-Ups

The NY Times details reaction from some NYC homeless people to his directive that they must go to shelters when the temperature hits freezing or they will be rounded up and taken their by authorities:

Bundled in blankets and enduring the frigid temperatures that arrived in New York City this week, homeless people said Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo was missing the point with his executive order directing authorities to pull them off the streets when temperatures fall to 32 degrees or below.

Homeless people need housing, “not someone telling them when to sleep and what to eat,” Sheila Turner, who is in her 50s and has been homeless for 30 years, said on Monday in East Harlem.

Ms. Turner and others who would be subject to Mr. Cuomo’s executive order called on the governor and Mayor Bill de Blasio, both Democrats, to create more units of permanent, affordable housing. Ms. Turner said she feared the governor’s directive would encourage harassment.

The Daily News had similar reaction from homeless people living on NYC streets.

Cuomo has already backtracked on his mandate after some criticism, with his counsel saying that the involuntary round-up of homeless people will only be for those deemed mentally ill and a danger to themselves or others.

That is already the protocol followed in NYC.

So what is Cuomo's mandated shelter round-up going to accomplish?

Why, putting Cuomo's name in the headlines.

You know what would be great - if Cuomo restored the $68 million he cut from a rental subsidy program that helped people stay in their homes.

That would be a headline I'd be in favor of.

It seems so would many people who are homeless in NYC.