Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio have found yet another issue to squabble about, clashing Wednesday over which one is doing more to help the homeless.
The governor poured the latest fuel on the fire when he boasted about the state’s efforts to battle New York City’s growing vagrant crisis — while criticizing de Blasio’s administration for failing to spend enough on the problem.
“The state has invested heavily [in housing], over $5 billion in recent years . . . I think the city should spend more.” Cuomo said during an appearance at NYU on Wednesday.
The governor also said he’s glad de Blasio finally admitted the obvious: There are more homeless people on the streets, as documented in a series of Post stories.
“If you walk around New York City, it’s hard to not conclude that we have a homeless problem. I think that the mayor is now acknowledging this,” Cuomo said.
City Hall officials blasted back at Cuomo’s claims, saying the state has actually slashed funding for homeless services.
“The state is going backwards in its support of New York City’s homeless — especially those that are mentally ill — and the latest example is its unacceptable proposal of 3,900 units of supportive housing over the next seven years,” said mayoral spokeswoman Ishanee Parikh. “We’ve consistently increased funding to make up for gaps left by state cuts, and we need the state to increase the number of units of supportive housing for mentally ill New Yorkers in need.”
Cuomo insisted he has “advocated for New York [homeless housing programs] over the years.”
But the chairman of the state Assembly’s Social Services Committee said that Albany should do more.
“The state has not invested heavily in homeless services over the last couple of years,” said Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Queens).
A homeless-advocacy group agreed.
“Governor Cuomo has proposed funding for only a tiny fraction of the 30,000 units of supportive housing needed in New York City over the next 10 years,” said Mary Brosnahan, head of Coalition for the Homeless.
“The city has taken encouraging steps to help ease the homelessness crisis, but it cannot succeed unless the governor steps up and does his part.”
A Cuomo official said the state spends more than $1 billion a year to combat homelessness.
Additional reporting by Kirstan Conley