@futurebird This is an issue that gets little consideration or political glamour, but is actually a really big deal for the livability of a city. It's up there with public transport and libraries, in my opinion. NYC has so many residents and people commuting for work, and it's such an important travel destination for tourists that it should be a priority.
Too many times, politicians (particularly conservative and "economic rationalist" types) want to cut costs, or invoke the ick-factor against a group they hate (I've lived in places where closing public toilets was cited in the war against drugs or to keep kids safe from LGBTQIA+ people), or do outrageous hostile social-engineering against homeless people, and so they proudly choose to under-fund or close public toilets. It's a short-sighted move because it degrades public amenity and sanitation, and has flow-on effects for restaurants, bars, and other local businesses.
On the other hand, good accessibility and around-the-clock availability of public toilets makes life safer, easier to plan for, and more comfortable for minorities, women, parents with babies looking for a change room, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. And, yes, homeless people, because they're a fact of life that cannot be solved by hoping they'll simply disappear if you're cruel enough to them. I'm seeing this announcement by Zohran Mamdani as a sign that he treats people and their basic needs with respect.