Michael Goodwin: Mayor Mamdanis political honeymoon is over homeless deaths reveal his arrogance

With homeless New Yorkers freezing to death on the streets after Mayor Mamdani foolishly told police and social workers not to break up their encampments and move them to shelters, a friend offers an idea that is consistent with the mayor’s obligations and his dedication to socialism.Although Mamdani and his wife lament that Gracie Mansion has no bidets, my tipster notes that the large, city-owned mayoral residence does have lots of unused rooms and spaces.Thus, she calls on the city’s first couple to open their hearts — and their doors, so that 10 or even 20 homeless people could safely ride out the brutal winter weather with them.Hey comrade, practice what you preach!The idea reminds me of a scene from “Doctor Zhivago,” the great 1965 flick starring Omar Sharif and Julie Christie.Set during World War I and the Russian Revolution, the scene involves Sharif’s character coming home to Moscow during the upheaval.His hopes of a happy family reunion are shattered when he learns the Reds have declared that he and his family must share their large home with 30 or 40 other people, some of whom are menacing.Even if he doesn’t open Gracie’s doors, the horrifying homeless deaths, 13 at last count, are just part of Mamdani’s baptism by tragedy and circumstance.Enough so that his first month in office can fairly be called the 34-year-old nepo baby’s introduction to the real world.His political honeymoon was over before it started.

A look in the mirror would reveal the culprit.The homeless deaths are especially revealing of his arrogance.Every mayor in the last 40 years has wisely adopted some version of Ed Koch’s policy that the city require people to take shelter, or move them indoors, when they refused or were incapable of making the decision for themselves.As one of those mayors, Rudy Giuliani, writes on X, “The policy of NYC before, during, and after I was Mayor was to remove homeless from the streets when it approached freezing.

The incumbent Mayo...