The problem is Americas version of left is "I will do nothing to help you but I won't intervene if you do drugs on the street" and their version of the right is "I will do nothing at all to help you but you will be punished for any rule breaking"
That's because the dominant faction of America’s “left”-er party is neoliberal centrist. The actual left would do more, but even in cities with a leftier reputation doesn't tend to have the power to.