> Our parks aren't by any means pristine but we don't suddenly sprout tent cities every summer.
Come for a walk with me. There are tents and makeshift shelters in the north end of Central Park (west side, north of 96th) and in the parks along both rivers if you know where to look.
NYC is getting worse. We have something like 60,000 beds available, but those are filled beyond capacity every night. The actual homeless population is certain to be higher than reported.
We're starting to see semi-permanent encampments, human feces on the sidewalks and used needles in the gutters. (haven't seen discarded needles since the mid 90s). Storefronts are vacant all over. Anywhere there's a sidewalk shed -- and there are plenty -- there will be people sleeping (and defecating) under it. The cops are completely demoralized and our useless mayor is campaigning for president with 0.08% support.
People are openly wishing for a long, cold winter to keep the sidewalks clean.
Come for a walk with me. There are tents and makeshift shelters in the north end of Central Park (west side, north of 96th) and in the parks along both rivers if you know where to look.