A New York City mayoral candidate has an idea to bus homeless city residents to a work camp north of the boroughs, possibly to the Hudson Valley.
A New York Post report said Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa wants to reopen Camp LaGuardia in Chester for New York City's homeless population.
Michele Murphy lives near the facility and spearheaded the effort close it years ago.
"Disaster that it was when it was open with level three sex offenders here. People constantly trespassing in our neighborhoods. The crime rate was much higher at the time. Does he remember that the reason why they also closed it was because it cost $14 million to run?" says Murphy.
Sliwa clarified his stance to News 12.
"I'm talking about way up there in the Adirondacks. Where you got plenty of space and there are counties in desperate need of money," he says.
Sliwa argues there's already similar programs in northern New York.
"This is what we generally do when you have addicts or alcoholics who come from wealthier backgrounds or middle-class backgrounds because they have insurance. Why wouldn't we do the same thing for people who are poor or indigent or can't afford insurance," says Sliwa.
His idea isn't a new one. Camp LaGuardia opened in the 1930s under New York City Mayor LaGuardia to address homelessness. The facility closed in 2006.
The Guardian Angels founder says the change of scenery would be optional for those in need who want it.
"You get them out of their environment, because they're not going to be able to detox in the environment in the city, to break the habit of using alcohol or drugs or get mental health treatment and therapy," says Sliwa.
News 12 reached out to Sliwa's opponent, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, for comment and has not yet heard back.