New York City pivots, moves asylum seekers to Brooklyn amid ‘crisis’

SHANNON LONGWORTH: ORCHARD BEACH, RANDALL’S ISLAND, A MIDTOWN HOTEL…AND NOW, A BROOKLYN CRUISE TERMINAL…NEW YORK CITY OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO TRY OUT NEW ITERATIONS OF MIGRANT RELIEF CENTERS AS THEY GRAPPLE WITH, WHAT MAYOR ERIC ADAMS CALLS, A CRISIS.

BUT SOME REFUSED TO MOVE TO THE LATEST LOCATION, AND PROTESTED ON THE STREET.

THE CITY HAD WANTED TO MOVE THE SINGLE MIGRANT MEN OUT OF THE WATSON HOTEL AND INTO A CRUISE TERMINAL IN RED HOOK, AS OFFICIALS NEEDED HOTEL SPACE FOR FAMILIES SEEKING ASYLUM.

HOWEVER, SOME OF THESE MEN VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT THE NEW, THOUSAND-BED FACILITY. PARTICULARLY, THAT IT’S FAR FROM THE JOBS THEY’D FOUND IN MIDTOWN, AND THAT IT LACKED PRIVACY AND HEAT.

CITY HALL HAS COME OUT AND SAID THE FACILITY IS TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED.

AS OF LAST WEEK, MAYOR ADAMS SAID THE CITY WAS CARING FOR NEARLY 28,000 MIGRANTS SEEKING ASYLUM. AND CITY OFFICIALS ESTIMATE THE COSTS COULD EXCEED $1 BILLION THIS YEAR. NEW YORK CITY HAS RECEIVED FAR MORE MIGRANTS ON BUSES FROM THE SOUTHERN BORDER THAN ANY OTHER NORTHERN CITY.

ERIC ADAMS: “WE ARE GOING TO OPEN FOUR MORE EMERGENCY HOTELS, WE HAVE TO OPEN HERCS. THIS IS A MAJOR FINANCIAL IMPACT ON NEW YORK CITY AND CITIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY THAT ARE RECEIVING THE BRUNT OF IT.”