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Edited by: TJVNews.com
A growing migrant crisis in New York City has prompted Lady Gaga’s father, Joe Germanotta, 66, to become a vocal advocate for addressing the issues faced by the residents of his Upper West Side community, as was reported by the New York Post. The renowned restaurateur and owner of “Joanne Trattoria” on the Upper West Side of Manhattan has been leading efforts to highlight the impact of the influx of migrants, asserting that their presence has brought negative consequences to the ritzy neighborhood, the Post report said. Germanotta’s concerns include a rise in undesirable behavior, such as prostitution, disruptive parties, reckless biking, and a decline in overall quality of life.
Germanotta’s residential building, “The Pythian” on West 70th Street has been his home for 35 years and is also where he raised his daughters, including the famous singer Lady Gaga, as was reported by the Post. His involvement in the local community runs deep, as he opened his restaurant in the area in 2012. Germanotta has taken a proactive stance by compiling a list of residents’ grievances to present to lawmakers, the NYPD, and homeless services in order to seek action against the issues plaguing the neighborhood, the report added.
“If it was like this when my girls were growing up, I wouldn’t be living in New York,” said Germanotta, as was reported by the Post.
The catalyst for Germanotta’s concerns was the transformation of the Stratford Arms Hotel into a shelter for hundreds of migrants, which occurred around six weeks ago, the Post reported. The Stratford Arms Hotel had been used as a residence hall for students attending the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) which happens to be located down the street from Germanotta’s home.
The shift was swift and discreet, catching the community off guard, the Post report said. Germanotta described the resulting chaos, including impromptu block parties, prostitution, catcalling of young girls, and reckless biking activities. The disturbances have reportedly led to a decline in property values, strained resources, and have disrupted the fabric of the neighborhood.
Speaking to the Post from his West 68th Street restaurant, Germanotta said of the influx of migrants in his neighborhood, “It was a stealth operation. They were bused in the middle of the night, like when they flew them into Westchester, they didn’t want anybody to know what was going on. It was all pretty rapid.”
Since the arrival of the migrants, the restaurateur said the quality of life in the area has taken a hit, with reckless e-bikes and motor-scooter drivers wreaking havoc on one-way streets, among many other factors, Germanotta said.
“There’s now 500 migrants living in that dormitory. That’s when all the mayhem began,” Germanotta also told the Post.
In response to these challenges, Germanotta has helped create the West 70th Street Association, a group of residents from his building and neighboring addresses who are seeking better policing and improved supervision of the migrants, as was reported by the Post. Germanotta’s call for a written plan with specific goals and deadlines to restore order in the community is central to their demands.
While Germanotta acknowledges that the migrants are guests in the neighborhood and advocates for proper management, he also raises concerns about the resources being allocated to address this situation, the Post report noted. He has argued that a more substantial police presence, a code of conduct, and better security measures are necessary to maintain harmony in the area.
The Post also reported that some people won’t even walk their dogs by areas where migrants have been hanging outside.
Germanotta also told the Post that neighborhood sidewalks that used to be mostly clean are now filled with trash. He was particularly troubled when he started seeing hypodermic needles.
Germanotta and the West 70th Street Association have met with officials from New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation [HHC] concerning this matter of public hygiene and safety, the Post report said.
They want to meet next with New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ chief adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin, and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, the pop star’s father told the Post.
The West 70th Street Association’s efforts have already resulted in enhanced NYPD policing and measures to address unregistered motorized scooters, the Post report stated. Germanotta’s advocacy represents a perspective that seeks a balanced solution, considering both the needs of the migrants and the interests of the existing residents.
The ongoing crisis serves as a microcosm of broader debates around immigration, housing, and urban planning. As the situation unfolds, the response of city officials, community leaders, and concerned residents like Joe Germanotta will shape the course of action taken to address the challenges presented by this complex issue.
