Bronx leader slams Mamdani admins nearly $2B hotels contract for homeless shelter as insane

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson slammed the Mamdani administration’s decision to award a $1.86 billion contract for hotels across the five boroughs to provide emergency space for the homeless — calling it “insane.”“A billion dollars to extend contracts with NYC hotels to continue housing homeless families PLUS building more permanent shelters to continue housing more homeless families is insane,” Bronx BP Vanessa Gibson said, linking to The Post’s story about the contract renewal.“I don’t get it,” she said in a statement on X.The Post reported Sunday that the city approved a three-year $1.86 billion contract with the Hotel Association of New York City Foundation, which represents nearly 300 hotels, to provide emergency shelter to people experiencing homelessness.The contract runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029.Gibson complained the city was taking too long to build housing, overall.“We need MORE affordable and permanent housing accelerated,” the borough president said.

“These housing projects are taking too long to close.There are still outstanding housing projects in my former Council district that still haven’t closed with HPD [Department of Housing Preservation and Development],” Gibson said.“Yet we will get a shelter quicker,” she noted.

“There should be no need for more shelters.We have work to do.”Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday vowed to ramp up the building of additional housing to reduce reliance on shelters and hotels and curb homelessness.“First and foremost, we know that the preeminent crisis in New York City is that of the housing crisis, and we know that the homelessness crisis is one facing that,” Mamdani said.He made the comment during the groundbreaking for a new residence in the Hunts Point section of The Bronx that will provide 96 supportive and affordable homes with on-site services.

The Doe Fund, a nonprofit focused on addressing homelessness and recidivism, will offer services.“What m...