Gov. Andrew Cuomo criticized the homeless population in New York City for spending time in the subway system during the coronavirus outbreak.
After the New York Daily News ran a front-page story about reports of arson, inappropriate sexual behavior, and human waste by homeless people residing in the subway system that have become a growing source of frustration for Metropolitan Transportation Authority officers, Cuomo urged the homeless to stay off the trains to allow essential workers to commute on uncrowded trains.
“The New York Daily News ran a story today on the public transportation in New York City, and their front page is a picture of a subway car filled with homeless people and their belongings,” Cuomo said during a press conference on Tuesday. “Respect the essential workers. That is disgusting, what is happening on those subway cars. It’s disrespectful to the essential workers who need to ride the subway system.”
Cuomo has been criticized for allowing the subway to remain open during the pandemic because many cases could have spread on the train. He justified the decision by saying the trains must run to get essential workers between home and work.
“Public transportation, we’ve kept running because they need it to get to work. That’s why public transportation continued. We talked early on about closing down public transportation. They said forget it,” Cuomo said.
He continued: “That’s how the nurses are getting to work, that’s how the orderlies are getting to work. Nobody will be in a hospital, nobody will be there to deliver the food, nobody will be in the power plant to keep the lights on, nobody will be at the telecommunications department. Public transportation is vital for them. Well, then make sure public transportation is safe and disinfected.”
Sarah Feinberg, interim New York City Transit president, has condemned the treatment of homeless people during the pandemic. She told the New York Daily News, “The city has failed our most vulnerable who are in desperate need of mental healthcare and housing services.”
She added, “NYC Transit will continue to do everything in our power to address this important issue, including working closely with all partners, but it is outrageous that a transportation agency is conducting social services in place of the city.”
As of Tuesday, New York had 295,106 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 22,668 related deaths.
