00:00Nearly 20 New Yorkers died in the winter, freezing to death on the streets.
00:05The Republican AG hopeful looking to unseat Democrat Letitia James is going after her
00:11rival over fraud claims in the state's homeless shelters. Saritha Comitoretti called the nearly
00:15two dozen homeless deaths from exposure last winter signs of a failing system.
00:19In one of the richest places in the world, we have people dying on the streets. It's unconscionable.
00:26Comitoretti blames the current AG and her political opponent, Letitia James, for failing
00:31to, quote, supervise the homeless shelters in the state, even though it is her responsibility.
00:36The New York State Comptroller, the New York City Comptroller, the Department of Health,
00:41the Inspector General have all conducted investigations. They have identified concrete
00:46instances of fraud, of corruption, of kickbacks. She promised to audit the entire program on day
00:53one if elected, seeking to root out corruption. In 2024, the New York Department of Investigation
00:58flagged the shelter system's $4 billion budget as an opportunity for fraud. Responding to the barbs,
01:03a spokesperson for Letitia James went after President Trump and his administration's
01:07blocked effort to cut funding for shelters. James is expected to beat out Comitoretti
01:12come Election Day. The Republican has won a statewide race in New York since 2002.
