Mayor Adams Decries Burden of “Unfair” Homeless Migrant Crisis, Calls for Broader Support

Edited by: TJVNews.com

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has expressed frustration over the city’s responsibility for accommodating the majority of homeless migrants, highlighting the strain the crisis has placed on local resources, according to a report on Thursday in the New York Post. During a press conference in Manhattan, Adams emphasized that the issue was not just a city concern but a national and statewide problem that has disproportionately burdened New York City residents.

“I think this is a national and statewide issue that has been unjustly dropped into the lap of New York City residents. We only make up .05 of the landmass in New York State!” Mayor Adams said, as was reported by the Post.   “Yet we are housing over 99% of the migrants. That’s just unfair to New York City!,” he added.

Adams pointed out the disparity between the city’s landmass, accounting for only 0.5% of New York State, and the fact that it is housing over 99% of the homeless migrants. The mayor labeled this situation as “unfair” and criticized the lack of broader support from both the state and federal levels to address the crisis.

The remarks come as tensions between City Hall and the state government escalate, the Post report noted. Governor Kathy Hochul’s lawyer criticized Adams for his handling of the migrant influx, accusing him of slow response and resistance to using state-provided shelter locations. Adams, however, defended his position by stating that the city’s shelter system was already stretched to its limits, according to the Post report.

The situation reached a turning point when dozens of homeless migrants were seen sleeping outside the historic midtown Manhattan Roosevelt Hotel (which has turned into a homeless shelter) due to the city’s inability to provide beds for them, the Post report said. Adams referred to this incident as the “dam burst,” illustrating how the long-standing issue had finally reached a critical juncture.

New York City is currently challenging the decades-old right-to-shelter mandate, which requires the city to provide temporary housing for individuals in need, as was reported by the Post. The city has argued that the current migrant crisis has placed an unprecedented strain on the shelter system and that broader assistance is required to rectify this burgeoning problem.

According to recent data from City Hall, approximately 101,200 migrants have arrived in the city since spring 2022, with over 58,500 residing in taxpayer-funded shelters, the Post reported. The escalating numbers of homeless migrants and the strain on the city’s resources highlight the urgent need for a comprehensive solution that involves cooperation between local, state, and federal authorities to address the complex issue of homelessness in New York City.

On Wednesday, the Post reported that a fiery protest unfolded in Queens, as authorities arrested several individuals, including former GOP mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, during a demonstration against a newly established “tent city” shelter for migrants. The shelter, located at the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center grounds, opened recently and is intended to accommodate around 1,000 adult migrant men as officials grapple with the influx of asylum seekers entering the city, the Post report said.

The protest drew hundreds of attendees who voiced their opposition to the makeshift housing solution for migrants. Chants of “No tent city,” “Close the border,” “No migrants,” and “America first” echoed through the demonstration, reflecting the sentiment of the protesters.

The Post also reported that as a busload of migrants arrived at the facility during the protest, tensions escalated. Some attendees were heard expressing hostile sentiments, with one person describing the migrants as “parasites.” In contrast, others chanted “USA!” to demonstrate their patriotic fervor.

Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels and a former GOP mayoral candidate, was arrested during the protest. As was reported by the Post, he was seen refusing orders to leave the middle of the street near the Creedmoor facility. Sliwa’s arrest came as he handed off his sign to another protester while officers placed him in handcuffs. The report added that prior to the demonstration, Sliwa had indicated his willingness to be taken into custody as an act of civil disobedience.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) issued warnings to protesters blocking traffic via loudspeakers, informing them that failure to move would result in arrests on charges of disorderly conduct, as was reported by the Post. The exact number of individuals arrested during the protest was not immediately confirmed by the NYPD.

The new emergency shelter, funded by the state, consists of four structures, including two tents capable of accommodating nearly 1,000 men. Additionally, the facility provides dining areas, portable showers, and toilets. The Post reported that the announcement of the Creedmoor site had previously sparked protests by local residents, who expressed concerns that hosting 1,000 migrants would negatively impact their community.

The protest underscores the growing tension surrounding migrant shelters in the city, fueled by the arrival of approximately 100,000 migrants over the past year. City officials have called on President Biden and the federal government to offer assistance in managing the influx and finding suitable solutions for the housing and support of the migrants that have arrived in the city. As these concerns persist, the clash of opinions on how to handle the migrant crisis continues to spark heated debates and confrontations in New York City.