"We will win! We will win!"
Chants of determination rang out in Bensonhurst Saturday during a protest against a proposed men's homeless shelter at 86th Street and 25th Avenue in Bensonhurst.
Despite numerous demonstrations against the 150-bed shelter during the last two years, the Department of Homeless Services informed Assemblymember William Colton and City Council Member Susan Zhuang that the city plans to move forward with the construction at the end of March, which Colton called “reckless and ill-advised."
About 100 Bensonhurst residents gathered across the street from the site, where elected officials and community leaders from south Brooklyn spoke out against what they claimed was a corrupt business where property developers profit from homeless shelters.
"We should not have this rally," Zhuang said. "It's a tough time for the community. The city has not given us a say."
Colton, citing figures from State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, said the city should not spend about $80,000 on each homeless person.
"Developers are very powerful," said Colton. "They want to make money, and we cannot continue to do this. Spending $80,000 on each homeless person is outrageous. Imagine how much housing we can get. But it's going into pockets."
Assemblymember Michael Novakhov, who has been protesting a shelter to be built in his district in Sheepshead Bay, wondered where all the city money goes.
"There has to be more transparency. There needs to be an audit on all city agencies," he said, adding that if New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani thinks homeless shelters are a great idea, he can build one next to Gracie Mansion.
Many opponents to the shelter say the location is terrible, as it sits on the corner of a busy street, with schools and senior centers nearby. The residents also do not like that the shelter will not be for families, but for single men who would receive substance abuse treatment and mental health counseling services.
State Senator Steve Chan criticized the site as being too close to a D train station stop, which he said would make commuters feel less safe while using the station. He also announced he would introduce a bill that would prevent homeless shelters from being built within 500 feet of train stations.
"I am going to continue to legislate to fight," he told the crowd. "We have a lot of things going on that are going to be a problem. This is priority number one."
Jay Jacky Wong, a Democratic District Leader from Manhattan, said he was in Brooklyn to show his support after concerns arose in 2022 over a shelter in Sara Roosevelt Park in Chinatown.
"There's no accountability with the DHS," Wong said. "This isn't what taxpayers want. It's a discriminatory policy that puts shelters in areas of low income and people of color."
Some residents echoed the sentiment, pointing out that shelters are not being built in affluent areas like Brooklyn Heights.
"Only specific communities and neighborhoods carry the weight," said a lifelong Bensonhurst resident named Ira.
Those who spoke at the rally called for the distribution of housing vouchers so homeless people could obtain housing, and for job training so New Yorkers could find higher wage positions.
The rally ended with many residents noting how they plan to continue to protest. By Sunday, construction equipment were arriving at the site, according to Zhuang.
About 100 police officers were dispatched to quell the crowd that tried to block the trucks from entering, according to the New York Post.
Zhuang said she has submitted a formal written proposal to the mayor and the deputy mayor of Health and Mental Hygiene calling on the city to designate 2501 86th Street as an affordable housing development.
"The mayor says affordability is the priority," Zhuang said in a statement. "Here is an opportunity — right now, in my district — to make that true."
