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Mayor Adams Declares State of Emergency as New York City Struggles to Handle 17,000 Migrants

October 7, 2022 | 2:47 PM - Updated on October 8, 2022 | 7:24 AM
in NEWS
44
Park West Hotel, which is serving as a shelter for migrant families.

By Carol Tannenhauser

Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency in New York City on Friday, resulting from the influx of roughly 17,000 migrants, mostly from South America, into the city’s homeless shelter system, bringing the total number of shelter residents to over 61,000, an historic record.

“The mayor’s declaration allows the city to open emergency relief centers more quickly by exempting them from the normal land-use and community-review process that often slows the opening of shelters,” The New York Times explained.

A shelter for roughly 30 migrant families was opened at the Park West Hotel on Central Park West between 103rd and 104th Streets, on the Upper West Side.

The migrants were bussed to the city by Governor Greg Abbott of Texas, essentially to make a statement: America’s immigration system is dysfunctional and so-called “sanctuary cities” need to share the responsibility. Abbott sent the buses to New York City (and Washington, DC) without prior notification — and has kept them coming steadily since April.

“Our right-to-shelter laws, our social services, and our values are being exploited by others for political gain,” Adams said in a press conference at City Hall. “New Yorkers are angry. I am angry, too.”

At first the city met the challenge gamely, welcoming, housing, feeding, providing social services and health care, including vaccinations, and other essentials to the migrants — and enrolling 5,500 of their children in school. “But though our compassion is limitless, our resources are not,” Adams said. He called for “emergency federal and state aid to handle the continued influx of asylum seekers as the city projects costs of more than $1 billion related to asylum seekers in this fiscal year alone,” according to a press release, “as well as expedited work permits, a national decompression strategy, and a resettlement strategy.”

“Today we’re issuing a clear message,” Adams said: “The time for aid to New York City is now. We need help from the federal government, help from the State of New York.” Adams told The New York Times that “he had spoken to Mr. Biden recently about the crisis and that Mr. Biden and Ms. Hochul understood the challenges that the city is facing.” He also said a spokesman from Senator Chuck Schumer’s office is “working with the New York delegation to secure resources and to get the Biden administration to do all it can to be helpful.”

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CardiZ
CardiZ
2 years ago

You want open borders, you get it. Keep them coming please. Not like my mother who had to wait years and pay a lawyer thousands of dollars to get her citizenship. Nope, everyone is welcome.

61
Reply
EVD
EVD
2 years ago
Reply to  CardiZ

This is not an “open border” issue. The migrants are claiming asylum, something protected under our laws at the Federal level. If you don’t like the laws, then they need to be changed by Congress.

Sanctuary cities are not “for” Open Borders but were a response to the pursuit of illegal citizens thru ICE. You can be Pro Immigration Policy and a Sanctuary City.

21
Reply
CardiZ
CardiZ
2 years ago
Reply to  EVD

To claim asylum, you go through a vetting process. Today there is none. It’s literally dangerous, as someone who is a radical and wishes to attack this country can just stroll in.

36
Reply
Farnham Maxwell
Farnham Maxwell
2 years ago
Reply to  EVD

Exactly. Thank you.. All Americans, all of us ,with the exception of our Indigenous citizens came at sometime in our personal history from somewhere else.
We are are ALL IMMIGRANTS. 🇺🇸

8
Reply
UWCider
UWCider
2 years ago
Reply to  Farnham Maxwell

You’re missing the point. Yes America is an immigrants country but you need to be here legally in order stay. The hypocrisy of Adams and the left never seize to amaze me. They are for a free all America until it reached their own backyard.

39
Reply
good humor
good humor
2 years ago

if politicians across the nation can vote about our border control, then they should share the burden as applicable. Plus, I think these people will be great for our sanctuary city to show the world that anyone can come here, legally or illegally, and get the services they want/need.

Plus, 17,000 isn’t really a large number. Doesn’t Texas have over a million?

44
Reply
David Howard
David Howard
2 years ago

Maybe he should talk to Biden about securing the border – the root cause of the issue.

55
Reply
Jen
Jen
2 years ago

It was Mayor Adams agreement with the mayor of El Paso to accept migrants. The number of migrants from El Paso is significantly higher than the number of migrants sent by Mayor Abbott.

In any case – why would you claim NYC a sanctuary city if you don’t have the means?

We are stretched thin with our own homeless. As much as I feel for migrants we don’t have funds to support them. Schools and shelters were over capacity even before.

The entire Biden migrant policy is horrendous. It is not about compassion at all. Most migrants are economic migrants and want a better life. Can’t blame them, but don’t we all?

55
Reply
EVD
EVD
2 years ago
Reply to  Jen

Not true. I’ve been volunteering at Port Authority every week for the past month. I’ve seen maybe 4 buaes from El Paso in total. The rest of the buaes (about 6 a day) are all “Abbott buses.”

6
Reply
Jen
Jen
2 years ago
Reply to  EVD

Sure, let’s rely on your visual count instead of actual data:

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/democrat-led-texas-city-steps-up-migrant-busing-new-york-outpacing-republican-2022-10-06/

28
Reply
EVD
EVD
2 years ago
Reply to  Jen

Jen, I invite you (or anyone) to come down to Port Authority any day of the week and see for yourself. It is a disorganized mess at best with close to no notice of when the Abbott buses are arriving. They come, hour after hour as opposed to the El Paso buses that arrive with at least a day’s notice. When they arrive, the mayor’s office is there to try to get a count but people get off and there is almost no intake or documentation done. Honestly, being on the ground is truly the best way to see what is happening. There is a sign up to volunteer as a greeter (just look online with Team TLC organization), and you can be on the front lines seeing what I see as early as tomorrow morning.

6
Reply
Apocalypta
Apocalypta
2 years ago
Reply to  EVD

hello i live in Manhattan i would like to donate my time as a greeter i only speak English can i apply.

1
Reply
Steven Barall
Steven Barall
2 years ago

I’m not criticizing what the Mayor is doing now but why hasn’t our city’s homeless problem ever been declared an emergency in the past. Now all of a sudden entire buildings of apartments are turning up? Why not find housing for existing homeless families that have school aged children? Or elderly homeless people.

65
Reply
Marie Ames
Marie Ames
2 years ago
Reply to  Steven Barall

Right. Charity still begins at home

1
Reply
Alfonse
Alfonse
2 years ago

Smartest thing the republicans every did. many people support stuff until it is in their backyard. Now we are going to find out how liberal this city really is. We can’t deal with our own homeless crisis, interesting to see how we will pay for and deal with more.

63
Reply
Peter
Peter
2 years ago

I’m not angry. Adams – why are you angry? What other NYers are angry?

We wanted this. We voted for it. There is no small-print footnote on “Sanctuary City” **.

Just deal with it now. Anger won’t help.

** Up to $1bn total or 17,000 people – whichever comes first. (But more is fine if it only affects other states)

37
Reply
Christine E
Christine E
2 years ago

$1 Billion across 17,000 refugees is $59,000 per refugee.

So nearly $300,000 to house a family of 5 in a single room in a rundown hotel with no heat and moldy food.
https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-poor-conditions-migrant-families-homeless-shelter-20221007-eookxzzy3jazndqvazeganwljm-story.html

Madness.

45
Reply
Mary
Mary
2 years ago
Reply to  Christine E

That article was a little confusing. They are complaining they don’t have heat because it’s September…sure there was a cold streak but I didn’t have heat in my very expensive apartment either…that’s part of regular nyc life, if the cold front comes early you kind of just put up with it until management turns it on for the whole building. They are complaining about only having enough to feed their children but what exactly were they expecting? Plenty of hard working folks here only make enough for rent and food for their kids too. Was life really better where they are arriving from? The part about no Wi-Fi was just :eye roll:. Go to Citi link corners or the library.

33
Reply
D C
D C
2 years ago
Reply to  Mary

There’s clearly a mismatch between migrant expectations and NYC reality.

27
Reply
Gia S
Gia S
2 years ago
Reply to  Christine E

The costs are so high! You actually need to double that since they aren’t even here for a full year. Who is getting this money? I doubt much of it goes to the migrants.

31
Reply
Best side?
Best side?
2 years ago

Huh. I’m not angry either. Abbot had enough and is correctly drawing attention to the problem. It’s working. We’re talking about it.

46
Reply
RAL
RAL
2 years ago

I believe most Venezuelans are claiming asylum – evidenced by no diplomatic relationship between US and the country – it is a failed state run by a dictator – so it is not an “open border” issue – it is the asylum system in US that is under funded and under staffed. Republicans don’t squeal about Cubans -because they vote for them – probably won’t if Venezuelans vote for them either. Complain about dysfunctional immigration policies and politicians who won’t come to the table – not those exercising right to have their claims for asylum heard

9
Reply
Old Westsider
Old Westsider
2 years ago
Reply to  RAL

The Venezuelans coming here are coming for economic reasons i.e. jobs.

I understand that, and understand the Federal laws that allow them to stay until their asylum cases are heard.

However, economic hardship in Venezuela should not be “a right” to seek asylum. Asylum should be granted based on oppression by the state, in this case by a dictator e.g political asylum. That is not the case in Venezuela.

We have to close the border to these people and keep the border open to those seeking political asylum.

29
Reply
GoRangers
GoRangers
2 years ago

The problem with sanctuary city is that you eventually run out of other people’s shelter…

37
Reply
Leon
Leon
2 years ago

Why is this New York City’s problem? Why can’t some of them be moved to other parts of the state or region? Housing in NYC costs a fortune. It costs a lot less upstate. These people have no ties to any part of America. Send them to someplace affordable and perhaps where they need workers. And provide incentives for social service workers to move to those places to support them. That is what student debt relief is for, not just giving it out willy-nilly.

Also, rather than building a wall, let’s diplomatically try to help improve things in the countries they are coming from so they are less eager to leave. I thought this was something VP Harris was tasked with?

5
Reply
Jen
Jen
2 years ago
Reply to  Leon

“Why is this New York City’s problem?” – because NYC declared itself a sanctuary city which includes guaranteed shelter and now many services.

Yet our own homeless didn’t have guaranteed shelter a few weeks ago. Our own children attend already overcrowded schools. Migrant children also have to have social and language services. Children born in NYC don’t get enough of these services. I’m not saying migrant children shouldn’t get education or services, they are already here, so we have to do that. But what city leaders were thinking?

https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/19/us/migrants-new-york-school-year/index.html

https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/607-22/adams-administration-project-open-arms-comprehensive-support-plan-meet-educational

32
Reply
JES
JES
2 years ago
Reply to  Jen

Jen,
The City does guarantee and is obligated to provide shelter to the homeless.
The City uses residences, shelters and hotels for this purpose,

0
Reply
Sheila Wolk
Sheila Wolk
2 years ago

Adams should have had them sent right back to Texas and Fla telling the states that he does NOT accept” human trafficing ” via other states representatives .This is not a dumping ground for Texas and Fla illegals..we dont send ours to them!!

Tex and Fla leaders needs to grow up or be replaced!

Last edited 2 years ago by Sheila Wolk
2
Reply
MJB
MJB
2 years ago
Reply to  Sheila Wolk

Texas and Florida are “human-trafficking “, but sending migrants back is not?

Besides that, since when only 2 states are responsible for the entire migrant population, particularly the states who opposed the current border policies?

As far as “replacement” is concerned, that would be up to people of Texas and Florida and not NY. Texans and Floridans are not unhappy with their leaders. Worry about your own state leadership.

Last edited 2 years ago by MJB
30
Reply
Michael
Michael
2 years ago

Sue Texas for the costs incurred. Heck, sue Texas just for being Texas.

2
Reply
CardiZ
CardiZ
2 years ago
Reply to  Michael

I’m so sorry you hate an entire American state. Guess what? We’re all part of the same country.

21
Reply
Pedestrian
Pedestrian
2 years ago

I read in the New York Post that Adam’s is blaming President Biden for this mess. He should be blaming the Republicans. DiSantis and Abbot are using these vulnerable people as tools . It’s the kind of thing Republicans love human trafficking for political purposes . Yes it is human trafficking.
REPUBLICANS LOVE BREAKING THE LAW. Especially when it makes them look like manly men to their base

3
Reply
Best side?
Best side?
2 years ago
Reply to  Pedestrian

“Human trafficking: the unlawful act of transporting or coercing people in order to benefit from their work or service, typically in the form of forced labor or sexual exploitation.”

We’re giving them piles of free goods and services. This isn’t human trafficking at all.

33
Reply
S G
S G
2 years ago

What a joke…a city with 8 million people that is proudly open to everyone (i.e sanctuary) can’t handle 17,000! Adams is a disgrace…he bashes TX, a state that upholds US immigration law (i.e. is not a sanctuary) after they’ve received hundreds of thousands illegal migrants. You get what you vote for NYC/NYS.

There is no such thing as “economic asylum” and no one has the “right” to come to the US because of a bad economy, high crime or other negative domestic conditions. Immigrants from anywhere are welcome if they do it legally and are not a drain on the US (i.e. will not need public assistance)

18
Reply
MJB
MJB
2 years ago
Reply to  S G

We can’t help our own homeless and mentally ill. We don’t have enough school seats for the children of NY. We have lots of people on welfare as it is. If you don’t have children or relatives who rely on services, then 17000 is not a big number to you.

Last edited 2 years ago by MJB
32
Reply
Farnham Maxwell
Farnham Maxwell
2 years ago

I think we can all agree..The problem is not “immigration”It is the unprecedented chaos occurring at our borders.. The gateways to America.

11
Reply
Westside neighbor
Westside neighbor
2 years ago

Maybe we can also all agree that our city has been, and is, currently failing to handle our own homeless chaos within New York City, and is not doing a good job with bettering conditions and possibilities for our own growing numbers of homeless . And this seems to me our first responsibility.

More and more frequently we see reports of homeless or mentally disturbed persons behaving violently in our neighborhoods. Threats toward tourist is particularly saddening to me.

A few weeks ago, I met friends visiting the city at an outdoor dining spot
at an East 45th Street hotel. A very angry, boisterous, apparently mentally disturbed man walked by screaming and insulting them, while walking back and forth near their table for a good 10 minutes. All I could think of was “please don’t hurt these people, please don’t have a weapon.” The tourists froze and were wise enough not to speak, and left the restaurant looking sad and terrified. I felt sad and upset for all –including the desperately angry man.

I have no way of knowing if this man was homeless, but our city needs to
seriously find ways to lessen our own dysfunction toward those in need, and our politicians need to acknowledge that we are already dysfunctional within our current handling of our own economically and mentally needy residents.

A sanctuary city must have limits…Otherwise, to me it is a bit like encouraging a family in a 2 bedroom apartment with 2 adopted children to adopt 10 more. The resources are just not there.

41
Reply
Karen Bruno
Karen Bruno
2 years ago
Reply to  Westside neighbor

Vote the politicians out who want NY to be a sanctuary city, otherwise expect more.

27
Reply
Apocalypta
Apocalypta
2 years ago

i don’t understand when Italy had all those migrants the government gave a monthly stipend for people to take them in their homes why the Mayor don’t think there are good people out here. My neighbor work so many years and they gave her a hard time for food stamps once she retired with little pension.

1
Reply
JES
JES
2 years ago

It is important to note that NYC’s obligation to provide shelter to the homeless (any homeless) is different than NYC’s policy approach as a “Sanctuary City.”

Per two lawsuits in the 1980s Callahan (singles) and McCain (families) NYC is basically obligated to provide shelter (as long as needed) to anyone who seeks it – includes people who come to NYC from other cities, states and other countries.
The City contracts with non-profits to provide services, run residences/shelters/hotel housing.

Sanctuary city refers to policy to not cooperate with Federal immigration enforcement (sweeps, reporting etc)

0
Reply
Christine E
Christine E
2 years ago
Reply to  JES

Obligation to NY shelter aside, asylum seekers are effectively federal wards until their cases are adjudicated — since they cannot legally work or support themselves and basically just await their trial date. The federal not state government should handle their housing, food, health care, interim schooling, etc. It’s unfair to Texas or any state to have to take on the federal burden. The Feds should be contracting housing directly from the private or nonprofit sector or using available federal space like when they repurposed
navy ships into floating hospitals in the early days of the pandemic. The current system is divisive, uses people as political pawns, and pits states against each other, when states should be uniting to shift responsibility back to the federal government.

3
Reply
Jen
Jen
2 years ago
Reply to  JES

Understood that right to shelter and sanctuary city are not the same concept. I am referring to the fact that city already failed a few times to provide shelter but is still accepting migrants.

https://www.thecity.nyc/2022/9/19/23357320/right-shelter-eric-adams-asylum-homeless

“ The city has reported at least two failures to meet that standard so far this year, with the most recent failure, for a group of 60 men at an intake center in Manhattan, immediately preceding Adams’ call for a reassessment.”

I’m not even mentioning overcrowded schools. Every parent in the area struggled with enrolling their children in local schools as it is.

5
Reply
JES
JES
2 years ago
Reply to  Jen

Jen,
Yes absolutely.
Regardless of one’s opinion on the City’s obligation to provide shelter, it is impossible for the City to deal with large numbers of people arriving. Same for other services like schools, hospitals etc.

There is no question that New Yorkers will be paying more to support this, and in addition New Yorkers will suffer worse/reduced City services as resources are diverted.

1
Reply
Peter
Peter
2 years ago

In 2017 there were signs in windows all over Manhattan welcoming immigrants and refugees. These sgns we’re a protest against Trump’s election. Where are those signs now? Where are those people? Welcome to the Border Crisis

2
Reply

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