NYC Council whacks Eric Adams’ plan to put migrant tent city on Randall’s Island

The New York City Council blasted Mayor Eric Adams’ plan to temporarily house incoming migrants in a tent city on Randall’s Island late Wednesday.

The statement, signed by Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, blasted the new location as likely inhospitable in the wintertime due to fierce winds and vulnerable to potential flooding during a hurricane.

“Given its own flood risks in the middle of hurricane season and colder temperatures from exposure to the East River as winter approaches, Randall’s Island is inconsistent with humanitarian relief,” Adams said.

“There are better options that New York City should explore to provide healthier and safer conditions for people who have already experienced so much trauma,” she added.

The speaker added that the Council had identified as many as 10 closed hotels in Manhattan, which combined could provide more than 4,800 beds, as a potential alternative.

“I agree with them that permanent housing is a more appropriate way to deal with this,” the mayor told NY1 in an interview late Wednesday. “I look forward to talking to them and looking at the plan that they are presenting.”

Her statement followed Hizzoner’s late Monday announcement that city officials were abandoning plans to put the tent city in The Bronx at the flood-prone parking lots for Orchard Beach after video showing water ponding there went viral.

Preparations at the location on Randall's Island where the city plans to build temporary housing for migrants on October 5, 2022.
Preparations at the location on Randall’s Island where the city plans to build temporary housing for migrants on October 5, 2022.
James Messerschmidt
The New York City Council spoke out against Mayor Adams' migrant housing on Randall's Island due to flooding risks and cold temperatures in the winter.
The New York City Council spoke out against Mayor Adams’ migrant housing on Randall’s Island due to flooding risks and cold temperatures in the winter.
James Messerschmidt

The claim of available hotel rooms for rent comes weeks after City Hall attempted to launch a similar program — issuing at least two emergency requests for hoteliers to provide housing for the recent arrivals, most of whom are Venezuelans seeking asylum from the violence and chaos in their homeland following its economic collapse.

Those requests sought 5,600 hotel rooms across the city and also sought to open a new intake center as the Department of Homeless Services existing facilities were overwhelmed by the influx from the southern border.

However, little progress was apparently made. City Hall stopped responding to emails seeking status updates in September — but before then, officials had acknowledged that no contracts had been finalized in response to either request.

Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said in the statement that there are "better options" in the city that have safer conditions for the migrants.
Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said in the statement that there are “better options” in the city that have safer conditions for the migrants.
Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Council staff did not immediately respond to Post requests for the list of reportedly available facilities.

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