Attendees at a sports convention at the Javits Center on Manhattan's West Side have expressed unease and concern over a large homeless encampment located several blocks from the venue. The sprawling shantytown, situated near 45th Street and 12th Avenue, has been a point of discomfort for visitors, with some attributing the situation to local leadership.
Candace Martino, 33, who attended the "Fanatics Fest" sports convention, stated that the encampment made her feel "like you’re watching over your back." Martino, who resides in Florida and previously lived in Pennsylvania, drew a distinction between Democratic and Republican-governed states, suggesting a difference in urban cleanliness and progress. "When you come up to a Democratic state, the cities are not clean. The buildings are empty," she said. "And with that, you’re seeing, like, all this homeless population increase, so it’s almost like they’re not trying to help, in a sense,” she added, referring to Democratic leaders.
Martino also recounted moving hotels due to a separate homeless issue, citing a feeling of fear when homeless individuals approached her. She expressed that such a situation should not be present during a family event like the convention, stating, "It’s just, you get an unsafe, uneasy feeling."
Another convention attendee, Christine Baize, a crew member for the event, described the encampment as "horrible" and expressed concern that the city might resemble its state in the 1970s and 1980s. "They don’t want it looking like that. They have to find a place for them,” Baize said.
Other convention-goers reported observing drug use within the encampment and experiencing unpleasant odors. Edgar, who attended Fanatics Fest, expressed disappointment, stating, "I feel like the police should have moved them somewhere else, you know — they definitely should have, this is only for a couple of days."
Mayor Zohran Mamdani acknowledged the encampment on Thursday, stating he had "noticed" it and planned to address the issue. However, no timeline for action was provided, and details regarding the city's seven-day waiting period for intervention remained unclear.
The encampment has been a source of irritation for local residents for months, with reports indicating the city has provided services such as trash collection for the encampment rather than clearing the area.