The mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, said on February 2 local time that 16 people in the city have died from the cold since the temperature dropped sharply in January. A video circulating online shows a homeless person warming up on a manhole cover that is emitting hot steam in the middle of the road.
I believe this news is true because I witnessed the same scene with my own eyes.
Yesterday afternoon, the temperature in Ottawa was -14℃, and at a traffic intersection, there were several homeless people dressed lightly (including a woman) asking drivers for money while waiting for the traffic light. I didn't see them getting more money than usual because of the cold. One of them was squatting on a manhole cover that was emitting hot steam.
Homeless people have always been a social issue criticized in Western countries. The long-term failure to address this problem is due to the government respecting their choices and viewing homelessness as their right to survive, respecting their choices. It is puzzling whether these people are truly choosing to live homeless, especially in such extreme cold weather, where 16 people have already frozen to death in New York. Are they really willing to beg along the road like this? If the government can provide necessary assistance, I think they probably wouldn't suffer like this, nor would people freeze to death.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1856075704257536/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.