A homeless encampment in New York City has expanded to 12 blocks along Manhattan's West Side, drawing increased complaints from residents and business operators about crime, open drug activity, and public safety concerns near the Intrepid Museum and Jacob Javits Center.
The camp stretches from 34th Street to 46th Street along 11th Avenue, according to reports from the New York Post. Under new measures enacted by Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration, the NYPD is no longer authorized to clear homeless encampments. The Department of Homeless Services was tasked with managing any sweeps but has not yet done so, residents and city workers told the Post.
Residents say conditions have deteriorated as the camp has grown. A city parks enforcement officer described ongoing thefts from nearby facilities, including hoses and ladders. Workers at the Jacob Javits Center said they observed people setting up in the park at 3 a.m., with the population increasing compared to previous months. A supervisor at the center identified areas around 36th and 37th Streets as particular concerns.
What the Right Is Saying
Critics contend that the current approach constitutes neglect rather than compassion. Steve Fulop, president and CEO of the Partnership for the City of New York, a nonprofit focused on urban quality-of-life issues, said leaving people on the street indefinitely fails both the homeless population and surrounding communities.
"Most people would agree that leaving people on the street indefinitely isn't compassion, it's neglect," Fulop told the Post. "We've seen in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco that letting encampments grow unchecked fails the homeless and erodes quality of life for everyone else."
Cristyne Nicholas, chair of the New York State Tourism Advisory Council, said the visible encampment presents challenges for the city's tourism industry.
"Tourists are forced to walk around squalor and stench," Nicholas said. "We want visitors to feel safe and welcome." Business operators along 11th Avenue have similarly called for more decisive action from city officials.
What the Left Is Saying
Supporters of Mamdani's approach argue that ending aggressive police sweeps represents a more compassionate stance toward homeless New Yorkers. The mayor has pledged to pursue humane solutions rather than criminalizing poverty, a position some advocates have long championed. A person staying at the encampment told the Post that Mamdani was "awesome" for stopping police enforcement actions.
Progressive groups have argued that clearing encampments without providing housing alternatives fails to address root causes of homelessness and can worsen outcomes for vulnerable populations. The administration's approach prioritizes connecting people with services over enforcement, supporters say.
What the Numbers Show
City records show calls to the 311 system regarding vagrants in the affected area increased from 40 in 2025 to 48 so far in 2026, according to data cited by the Post. Of this year's complaints, 28 involved homeless individuals potentially in need of social services, while 20 specifically concerned the multi-block encampment itself.
The camp now covers approximately 12 city blocks along one of Manhattan's major corridors near several tourist destinations and convention facilities. The Intrepid Museum, which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, is located within the affected zone.
The Bottom Line
Mamdani's homelessness policy faces mounting pressure as the visible encampment has become a flashpoint between those who favor enforcement-based approaches and advocates for service-oriented interventions. City officials have not yet announced specific timelines for DHS-led sweeps that were promised under the new framework.
What happens next will test whether the administration's humane approach can deliver results without eroding public safety conditions in affected neighborhoods. Residents, business operators, and tourism officials are watching closely to see if alternative solutions materialize before calls for renewed enforcement grow louder.