Hochul pushes back on Mamdani’s plan to end sweeps of city homeless encampments, siding with Mayor Adams

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday came out against Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s plan to end New York City’s homeless encampment sweeps.

The governor said enforcement, including sweeps when needed, must remain part of the city’s homelessness response, siding with outgoing Mayor Eric Adams. Her position adds new pressure to Mamdani, who announced Thursday that he will halt the sweeps once he takes office, arguing the initiative has failed to connect people living on the streets with stable housing.

A spokesperson for Hochul told amNewYork on Friday evening that the governor does not believe that "allowing New Yorkers to sleep on sidewalks or under bridges is a humane solution to homelessness."

“She supports an approach that combines enforcement - including sweeps when needed - with connection t