Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday defended his plan to end sweeps of the city’s homeless encampments.

Speaking to reporters during a Dec. 9 press conference, Mamdani rejected earlier criticism from Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams, who have said enforcement must remain a tool to address public safety and sanitation concerns.

“What I’m opposed to is the failure that you’ve seen characterize the Adams administration’s approach,” he said. “What I’m opposed to is looking at an entire calendar year and seeing the Adams administration be unable to connect a single homeless New Yorker that was affected by those sweeps to permanent housing.”

Pressed on encampments in high-traffic areas, Mamdani said his administration would intervene only by providing guaranteed indoor alternatives, e

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