Over the weekend, the streets of Brooklyn, New York, saw demonstrators rallying against city plans to construct a homeless shelter, which locals criticize as a deceptive strategy.
On Sunday, Sheepshead Bay was filled with hundreds of protesters chanting, “Vote them out,” following the decision by city officials to convert an approved affordable housing site from 2022 into a homeless shelter.
Community members stated that this change occurred in 2023 after a developer withdrew from the project, without seeking any additional input from local residents.
Community activists marched for hours as they held up signs reading, “No shelters near playgrounds or schools,” “Keep our street safe, keep shelters away,” and, “Children’s safety first, no homeless shelters!”
Demonstrators hold signs as they walk through the streets of Brooklyn, New York.
“The community was promised affordable housing – not another shelter,” Sliwa said in a post on X. “I showed up to lead the protest while the mayor hides and other candidates stay silent. This bait-and-switch is unacceptable. I will always stand with New Yorkers. Enough is enough.”
The New York Post reported that locals are cautious of homeless shelters as they attract crime and danger.
“I do believe homeless people should have a place to go, but I was talking to my dad earlier and he told me that he has homeless friends that are scared to be in these shelters because of how dangerous the other people that are there are, it’s not even safe for a lot of homeless people to be there,” 21-year-old Sheepshead Bay resident Fruma Feldman said to the Post. “So, with that being said, I don’t think it should be here.”
Dimple Willabus speaks during a massive protest in Brooklyn, New York, on Sunday.
Dimple Willabus, who is running for District 46 Council, called on residents to pressure local officials to listen.
“It’s very important for us to continue the pressure.” Willabus said. “We pressure our elected officials who put us in this situation…. we have the super power to vote for the right people, vote the wrong people out.”
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