NEW YORK — Rockland County, New York, has declared a state of emergency following New York City’s decision to move hundreds of immigrants to upstate hotels out of concerns about lack of space for shelter them. County officials say they “would not tolerate” this measure.
Saturday’s emergency declaration comes a day after Mayor Eric Adams announced plans to bus up to 300 asylum seekers to two hotels in the Hudson Valleya plan quickly denounced by local officials who wondered why they received no warning or comment.
In addition to the Orangeburg hotel, the migrants will also be transported to a hotel in the city of Orange Lake, in Orange County.
County Executive Ed Day said about 340 men are expected to be transferred to a hotel in Orangeburg over a four-month period followed by a period of integration. He also said the county informed Adams that they did not agree with his call.
“This county already has a housing crisis due to the lack of it and the lack of affordable housing options,” Ed’s statement said. “Sending busloads of people to this county that does not have the infrastructure to serve them will only compound that problem ten times over while putting pressure on support systems that are already at a breaking point.”
According to Day, the declaration lasts for 30 days and prohibits the city from moving the migrants north, and does not allow any hotel or motel to house them without a specific license to do so.
Orangetown Supervisor Teresa Kenny (Orangeburg is a village in Orangetown) said Mayor Eric Adams called her Friday morning with the news.
“I actually said it bluntly to confirm that you’re not asking for permission, you’re calling as a courtesy, and he confirmed that you are,” he said. “It’s disappointing because we have a lot of questions.”
Day said Adams was being hypocritical by sending immigrants out of his city to Orange and Rockland counties.
“Mayor Adams always complains that he and other mayors who are black have been picked on by the Republicans…turn around now what is he doing? He is doing the exact same thing,” Day said. “He’s bringing immigrants to Republican cities. Orange County, Republican County. Rockland County, Republican County. How interesting is that?”
Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican, criticized the mayor for his plan, saying “Rockland County is not a sanctuary county, unlike New York City and its boroughs, and should not bear the costs associated with the abject failure of the Biden Administration on Border Security and Immigration”.
New York City said it will foot the bill for migrant housing, food and comprehensive service delivery for up to four months. There is still the possibility that the city will lease other hotels as well.
Kenny, also a Republican, said city officials told her all the immigrants being brought to the hotel in her city are single men, but it’s unclear when they will arrive and how many will stay at the hotel.
“One of the things I asked bluntly is if they were doing background checks, if they had a criminal record. And they told me they didn’t know,” Kenny said.
Photos taken Friday afternoon show a pile of mattresses outside the inn. Hotel staff inside refused to speak to our sister chain NBC New Yorksaying they were too busy preparing to receive the migrants.
“The community is already saturated with people who are undocumented, we have regular day laborers trying to find work,” said Orangeburg resident Scott Stout.
In a statement, Mayor Adams, a Democrat, said, “This new voluntary program will provide asylum seekers with temporary housing, access to services, and connections to local communities while they build a stable life in New York State.”
But local officials still want more information and details about the plan.
“The more information we can tell and tell our residents, it’s only going to be that much better for everyone involved,” Kenny said.
2023-05-08 15:19:09
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