|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By: David Avrushmi
A new bill introduced by progressive City Council members is facing opposition from conservatives and some moderate Democrats. The bill aims to overturn Mayor Eric Adams’ recent imposition of 30-day stay limits at city-run shelters, the NY Post reported.
Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli, a Republican from Staten Island, criticized the bill, likening the idea of providing indefinite shelter to migrants to a fantasy. He questioned whether there would be enough resources, jokingly mentioning unicorn poop and magic lamps.
The legislation, introduced by progressive Democrat Brooklyn Councilwoman Shahana Hanif, seeks to prevent city agencies from imposing stay restrictions at any type of shelter. Mayor Adams had previously implemented a 60-day limit on stays at city-run shelters for single adult migrants, citing limited space and resources to accommodate the influx of migrants from the southern border.
Hanif argues that the legislation is necessary to prevent migrants from being forced onto the streets and criticizes Adams’ policy as “shameful.” Other progressive council members, including Lincoln Restler and Sandy Nurse of Brooklyn and Pierina Ana Sanchez of the Bronx, have expressed support for the bill.
However, Queens Councilman Robert Holden, a moderate Democrat, believes that stripping Adams of the tools to address the shelter system’s crisis is not sound governance.
Mayor Adams imposed the 30-day limit on shelter stays for single adult migrants due to concerns about limited space to accommodate a large number of migrants. He emphasized that the right to shelter was not designed for the entire world and called for a more realistic approach instead of detached idealism.
Charles Lutvak, a spokesperson for Adams, argued that the bill is disconnected from the city’s current reality, as it has already served over 122,700 asylum seekers seeking shelter since spring 2022. He emphasized that New York City is facing significant challenges and cannot sustain the status quo without additional support and resources from state and federal partners.
Mayor Adams had recently imposed 30 and 60-day limits on stays at city-run shelters, leading to eviction notices for asylum seekers and a requirement to reapply for shelter or find alternative housing. He cited limited space and resources as the primary reasons for these measures.
However, Brooklyn Councilwoman Shana Hanif, who drafted the bill, criticized the mayor’s actions as cruel and inhumane. She argued that New York City has historically welcomed refugees and immigrants seeking safety and a better life, but Mayor Adams’ policies were abandoning that tradition.
The proposed legislation aims to outlaw limits on stays in homeless shelters and Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers for migrants. It asserts that no agency should impose restrictions on the length of time individuals or families can reside in these shelters. The bill has garnered support from various council members, homeless service providers such as WIN and the Coalition for the Homeless, as well as legal advocacy organizations like the Legal Aid Society and Urban Justice Center.
Mayor Adams, however, has received support from Governor Kathy Hochul and former President Bill Clinton. They argue that the right to shelter policy was originally intended to assist the city’s homeless population, not to accommodate a large influx of asylum seekers from around the world.
The outcome of the bill remains uncertain, as it is unclear whether the City Council has enough votes to pass it, let alone override a potential mayoral veto. The issue of migrant shelters has sparked intense opposition in various parts of the five boroughs.
