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Dr. Phil joined New York City Mayor Eric Adams on a subway tour aimed at addressing the city’s growing safety concerns and homelessness crisis. The visit, which came on the heels of Marine veteran Daniel Penny’s acquittal, highlighted the tense realities of life in the city’s underground transit system.

“This subway system is the lifeblood of our economy because it’s the great equalizer,” Adams explained, emphasizing the importance of safety for all riders. “You could have the Wall Streeter and the waiter riding side-by-side. People not only need to be safe, but they must feel safe. The police uniform sends a signal.”

Jan 17, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York City Mayor Eric Adams addresses the crowd prior to the game honoring Martin Luther King Jr. between the Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

As the New York Post reported, the tour soon turned into a teachable moment when the duo encountered a homeless man sprawled out in a subway hallway. A sergeant accompanying the group described the protocol for approaching such individuals, explaining that the process begins with a Department of Homeless Services (DHS) worker.

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Adams quickly pointed out the need for police involvement in such situations. “If this person wakes up and is schizophrenic or bipolar, he could have a weapon. You can’t just send in civilians,” he said.

True to his warning, the scene escalated rapidly. The homeless man awoke and began shouting profanities at the DHS worker before confronting nearby officers aggressively. Dr. Phil and Adams observed as the man’s demeanor shifted from passive to hostile in seconds.

November 11, 2021; New York, New York, USA; NYC Mayor-elect Eric Adams greets the crowds in the 102nd New York City Veterans Day Parade on November 11, 2021 in New York. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY

“See how fast it can turn?” Adams said, gesturing toward the volatile interaction. “Now you have just civilians here, they can be hurt.”

The incident served as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding homelessness and public safety. Adams argued that many critics of his administration’s approach fail to understand how quickly these situations can spiral out of control.

“I believe, that’s what the people who are pushing back on what we’re doing-they don’t know how quick this could change,” he remarked, drawing on his decades of experience in law enforcement.

During the encounter, the homeless man shouted about being an American citizen and not receiving adequate care. Adams acknowledged the man’s frustration.

“Think about this for a moment. Doing what we’re doing is costly. If we had $6.5 billion we could do more, but instead of that we had to deal with a national problem.”

The mayor was referencing New York City’s migrant crisis, which has seen the city handle 220,000 migrants in recent years. Adams clarified that the state’s constitution mandates a “right to shelter” for all individuals, regardless of immigration status—a provision that complicates matters further.

“The right to shelter was never conceived with the migrant crisis in mind,” added Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Brian Stettin.

Dr. Phil’s visit shed light on the daunting challenges faced by New York City’s leaders as they navigate the intersection of homelessness, public safety, and federal immigration policy.


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