Mayor Bloomberg defends his record on the homeless

Mayor Michael Bloomberg Tuesday launched an impassioned defense of homeless services during his 12-year tenure, saying those lacking shelter are better off in New York City than elsewhere in the world.

“I don’t think there’s any administration, any city that has ever done as much to help those in need as we have done in this city,” he said.

“Should we stop there? No. Not at all. But if you’re poor and homeless, you’d be better off in New York City than any place else.”

Bloomberg said he’s proud of the city’s work and the city’s homelessness rate — one out of every 2,260 residents — was much lower than the rates in Washington, D.C., Seattle and Los Angeles.

He also suggested reporters examine homelessness in other parts of the world in order to see how the city compares.

Bloomberg spoke after unveiling the LeFrak Center ice-skating facility in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park — the first stop of a five-borough tour highlighting his administration’s successes.

The rink — part of a $74 million improvement project — is the product of a private-public partnership like those that the mayor has promoted citywide to improve park space.

Bloomberg’s last day in office is Dec. 31. Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio takes over Jan. 1 and has criticized Bloomberg policies — including those relating to housing and homelessness — that de Blasio said led to economic inequalities. Mary Brosnahan, president and CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless advocacy group, said a record 52,000 New Yorkers would sleep last night in emergency shelters — a 70 percent increase on Bloomberg’s watch.

“So it’s incomprehensible that the mayor is literally ‘proud’ of his homeless policies,” she said in a statement.

A reporter asked Bloomberg about last week’s New York Times series about a homeless girl who has spent the bulk of her life in a Brooklyn shelter, prompting his extended remarks on homelessness.

“This kid was dealt a bad hand ... that’s just the way God works,” he said. “Sometimes some of us are lucky and some of us are not.”

Bloomberg today will deliver a speech to the Economic Club of New York on the growth of American cities. It will be his last major speech as mayor.

De Blasio’s team yesterday released details of his Jan. 1 inauguration ceremony, saying regular New Yorkers will have “an unprecedented level of access” to its new leadership.
De Blasio and his wife, Chirlane McCray, will greet celebrants at City Hall after the swearing-in ceremony and host an open house at Gracie Mansion on Jan. 5.

Separately, De Blasio is contacting City Council members to advocate for Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito for the council leader position. Mark-Viverito, an early supporter of de Blasio’s candidacy for mayor, is one of seven vying to become speaker. The speaker is to be chosen Jan. 8 by council members.

“As he’s always done, Mayor-elect de Blasio routinely talks with members of the City Council and other civic leaders about the critical issues facing New York City,” his spokeswoman Lis Smith said in a statement. “The City Council will select the Speaker, and Mayor e-elect de Blasio looks forward to working with the next Speaker and Council on a passing a progressive reform agenda for New York City.”

A representative for Mark-Viverito did not respond to a request for comment.