evidence: There’s a huge difference between the two mayors. Unlike every other prior mayor, de Blasio included, Adams has chosen not to ignore the homelessness crisis that has been growing in New York for the last four decades. I support him in his efforts to address not just the homelessness crisis in and of itself but also the systemic, structural, and institutional racist policies that perpetuate the issues that lead to housing insecurity and homelessness. The previous mayor did not have that focus. Two years ago, when I stood outside Gracie Mansion, I asked de Blasio to use his position of leadership in a responsible way—not to take a vulnerable population and move us around like cattle. I was asking him to unite New Yorkers to address the issues of homelessness. And I said to him, What we need, if you really want to do this right, is a seat at the table, voices in the discussion, and a hand in the decision-making. That mayor didn’t give us that.