Humanitarian Crisis Declared on Manhattan's West Side Due to Homelessness and Drug Abuse

Councilman Erik Bottcher urges Mayor Adams to expand mental health programs as residents and tourists face increasing distress.

Significant areas of Manhattan's West Side are plagued by open drug use and mentally ill homeless individuals.
Councilman Bottcher's letter highlights the dire conditions in Times Square, Garment District, and Washington Square Park.
Local businesses and residents report daily encounters with public drug use, violence, and unsanitary conditions.
The NYPD is overwhelmed with calls related to drug sales, property destruction, and physical intimidation.
Bottcher calls for the expansion of the B-HEARD program and additional social workers to address the crisis.