No good deed. . .
A kind Samaritan sees a man lying on a cold Fifth Avenue sidewalk and drapes him in a coat. His thanks? The homeless man, identified by police as 25-year-old Xavier Israel, jumps up, attacks his benefactor and steals his wallet.
After all the mess on our streets for the past two years, you thought nothing could shock you.
Nothing, alas, could faze the de Blasio administration, but perhaps with a new mayor, Eric Adams, we can have a conversation about the meaning of “compassion.”
Despite the rhetoric from the left, New York City is sympathetic. We spend $2 billion on the homeless, mostly on the shelter system, but that doesn’t include the extra billions we spend on things like rent subsidies to keep people from becoming homeless. .
It also does not include the money and time donated by New Yorkers to charity.
But a large percentage, probably the majority, of those living on the streets are mentally ill, drug addicts or both. Attacking someone who is trying to keep you warm is not a sign of a sane person.
Lawyers will argue that Xavier Israel shouldn’t be sent to jail, and thanks to progressive district attorney Alvin Bragg, that probably won’t happen.
But too often, after that bit of “free it” justice, what happens is . . . nothing. The person is put back on the street and assaults someone else.
Have you been to Penn Station lately? There are people camping everywhere, but what frightens commuters are those mumbling or shouting profanity, staggering in common areas, hands in pants, ready to fight. Even eye contact will provoke them.
It’s not good for them. Or U.S. They have ticking time bombs in their heads, and the city only does something when they go off.
Progressives say this is not the job of the police. Fine. But consider that under the previous administration, homeless “outreach” workers walked through Penn Station and politely asked homeless people if they wanted help.
Well, that was the theory anyway. An audit by state comptroller Tom DiNapoli found the Bowery Residents’ Committee billed the city for $1.4 million in unsupported or unauthorized expenses, including for a boat party chartered. When The Post visited the band’s office at Penn Station, it was often closed.
Even when they worked, however, BRC was doomed, as their offers were voluntary. What person with schizophrenia will be able to decide what is good for themselves? These are the people who attack someone by giving them a coat.
Compassion does not mean “we can help you. No? OKAY.” Compassion is “you can’t sleep here. We’ll take you where you can and we can get you the help you need.
New Yorkers shouldn’t have to literally give their coats to people sleeping on the sidewalk. And they certainly shouldn’t be attacked for it. We can fix that.
You can fix that, Mayor Adams.
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