The city of New York has been planning a 150-capacity men's homeless shelter at 86th Street and 25th Avenue in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn — despite sustained community opposition dating back to November 2023. On Sunday night, several hundred residents blocked construction trucks and lined multiple blocks to stop the project from moving forward.

The neighborhood has shown up repeatedly. A councilwoman was arrested at a protest in July 2024. Residents have organized, spoken at hearings, and made their opposition clear for over two years. Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration has pushed forward anyway, with construction set to begin imminently and the shelter slated to open in late 2027.

The planned site sits near senior housing complexes, a subway station, and one of the neighborhood's busiest pedestrian corridors. No meaningful alternative locations appear to have been considered.

We are calling on Mayor Mamdani to halt construction, return to the community, and conduct a genuine review of this site before breaking ground.

Photo: William C Lopez/New York Post