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| New York governor: towns may place homeless in shelters in freezing weather | |
| (1 day later) | |
| New York governor Andrew Cuomo on Sunday signed an order allowing communities statewide to take homeless people from the streets and into shelters when temperatures reach freezing. | |
| Cuomo said he does not want to “argue an individual’s right to freeze to death” by staying out on the streets and defying his order. He added that he was prepared for any legal challenge over “a civil right to sleep on the street and freeze”. | Cuomo said he does not want to “argue an individual’s right to freeze to death” by staying out on the streets and defying his order. He added that he was prepared for any legal challenge over “a civil right to sleep on the street and freeze”. |
| The legality of the order was questioned by Karen Hinton, a spokeswoman for the New York City mayor, Bill de Blasio. De Blasio and Cuomo have clashed on a number of issues, including city transportation and schools. | The legality of the order was questioned by Karen Hinton, a spokeswoman for the New York City mayor, Bill de Blasio. De Blasio and Cuomo have clashed on a number of issues, including city transportation and schools. |
| Related: New York abandons plan to clear subways of sleeping homeless people | Related: New York abandons plan to clear subways of sleeping homeless people |
| “We support the intent of the executive order, but to forcibly remove all homeless individuals in freezing weather, as the governor has ordered, will require him to pass state law,” Hinton said in a statement. | “We support the intent of the executive order, but to forcibly remove all homeless individuals in freezing weather, as the governor has ordered, will require him to pass state law,” Hinton said in a statement. |
| “This executive order adds no legal or financial resources to New York City’s programs to assist the homeless and merely requires all New York state localities follow many of the same requirements as New York City to shelter families and individuals in need in freezing temperatures.” | “This executive order adds no legal or financial resources to New York City’s programs to assist the homeless and merely requires all New York state localities follow many of the same requirements as New York City to shelter families and individuals in need in freezing temperatures.” |
| Cuomo said the executive order, which takes effect on Tuesday, would protect the state’s growing homeless population. | Cuomo said the executive order, which takes effect on Tuesday, would protect the state’s growing homeless population. |
| On Sunday, temperatures in parts of New York state were dipping below 32F (0C). The order calls for police departments and social services agencies to move people into shelters, including those reluctant to go. | On Sunday, temperatures in parts of New York state were dipping below 32F (0C). The order calls for police departments and social services agencies to move people into shelters, including those reluctant to go. |
| Nearly 60,000 homeless people live in New York, according to the Coalition for the Homeless, which counted more than 109,000 people using the city’s shelter system last year. According to the coalition, 86% more people sleep in municipal shelters than they did a decade ago. | Nearly 60,000 homeless people live in New York, according to the Coalition for the Homeless, which counted more than 109,000 people using the city’s shelter system last year. According to the coalition, 86% more people sleep in municipal shelters than they did a decade ago. |
| Related: 'To your bone you’re cold': New York homeless shelters filled to capacity | Related: 'To your bone you’re cold': New York homeless shelters filled to capacity |
| In an interview with WCBS-AM, Cuomo said he was ready to go to court, if necessary, to defend his order against any constitutional challenges. | In an interview with WCBS-AM, Cuomo said he was ready to go to court, if necessary, to defend his order against any constitutional challenges. |
| “I want this done statewide,” Cuomo said. “By the way, there is a philosophy out there that says people have a civil right to sleep on the street and freeze to death if they want to.” | “I want this done statewide,” Cuomo said. “By the way, there is a philosophy out there that says people have a civil right to sleep on the street and freeze to death if they want to.” |
| He said he believed the law was on his side. | He said he believed the law was on his side. |
| “I’m not going to argue an individual’s right to freeze to death,” Cuomo told WCBS. “I want to argue an individual’s human right to housing and services and shelter.” | “I’m not going to argue an individual’s right to freeze to death,” Cuomo told WCBS. “I want to argue an individual’s human right to housing and services and shelter.” |
| The governor said the order, requiring homeless shelters to extend hours if necessary, was to protect people from hypothermia and potential death. | The governor said the order, requiring homeless shelters to extend hours if necessary, was to protect people from hypothermia and potential death. |
| Related: 'I thought it would be easy': one New York family's search for a home | Related: 'I thought it would be easy': one New York family's search for a home |
| Last fall, Cuomo and De Blasio failed to negotiate an agreement about how to build new housing for the city’s homeless population. In November, the mayor said the city would fund the project for the next 15 years without the state’s assistance. | Last fall, Cuomo and De Blasio failed to negotiate an agreement about how to build new housing for the city’s homeless population. In November, the mayor said the city would fund the project for the next 15 years without the state’s assistance. |
| Speaking on local NY1 television, Cuomo declined to say whether his aides had told De Blasio’s office about the executive order. “I think it is a fact that homelessness is on the increase in New York City,” he said. “I think everybody recognizes that and I think everybody recognizes that that is a significant problem.” | Speaking on local NY1 television, Cuomo declined to say whether his aides had told De Blasio’s office about the executive order. “I think it is a fact that homelessness is on the increase in New York City,” he said. “I think everybody recognizes that and I think everybody recognizes that that is a significant problem.” |