Extreme cold: Death toll rises to 16 in NYC, Mamdani said none lived in homeless encampments amNewYork

"Sixteen people have died outdoors in New York City during the extended stretch of extreme cold, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Monday, as the city marked its 11th consecutive day of below-freezing temperatures. According to the mayor, preliminary findings show hypothermia played a role in 13 of the deaths, while three appear to be overdose-related. Final determinations are still pending from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Each of these lives lost is a tragedy, Mamdani said."

"Before taking office, Mamdani stated that he would halt the city's policy of sweeping homeless encampments, arguing that the initiative during the Adams and de Blasio eras failed to connect people living on the streets with stable housing. In the face of criticism from elected officials like Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mamdani pledged that his administration would focus on linking people to supportive or rental housing rather than continuing the multi-agency clearings."

"He has proposed addressing street homelessness through his Department of Community Safety, which would reduce the police's leading role in these interactions when established. A bill is currently working its way through the City Council to establish the unit, but the NYPD has been among the city agencies engaging in the Code Blue outreach."

Sixteen people died outdoors in New York City during an extended below‑freezing stretch that lasted at least eleven consecutive days. Preliminary findings indicate hypothermia played a role in thirteen of the deaths and three appear to be overdose-related, with final determinations pending from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Available information indicates none of the individuals were living in homeless encampments at the time of death. City policy will halt sweeps of homeless encampments and prioritize linking people to supportive or rental housing. A proposed Department of Community Safety aims to reduce police involvement in street homelessness responses while Code Blue outreach continues.

Read at www.amny.com