NEW YORK — With the asylum seeker crisis stretching New York City services to the breaking point, Gov. Kathy Hochul has joined Mayor Eric Adams in asking a judge to amend the right-to-shelter law.
However, there are those who are attempting to prevent their actions.
On Thursday, at St. Bartholomew’s Church on Park Avenue, a group of almost twenty advocates, religious leaders, and a representative from one of the city’s major unions gathered to establish NY Sane. This organization is committed to preventing the city from persuading a judge to undermine the right-to-shelter law in order to manage the asylum seeker crisis.
According to Christine Quinn, president and CEO of WIN, it seems that the mayor believed he could discreetly repeal the right to shelter and evict newcomers onto the streets as if they were not deserving of basic human treatment, all while hoping nobody would take notice.
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According to the group, the mayor’s success would result in the emergence of extensive tent encampments resembling those observed on the West Coast. Additionally, they argue that this approach would fail to address the increasing number of migrants, which currently exceeds 122,000. Furthermore, they believe it would negatively impact the city’s economy by deterring tourists, commuters, and businesses from the area.
David Jones of the Community Service Society expressed concerns about the homeless population seeking survival during a harsh winter, noting that the city streets, similar to what has been observed in San Francisco and elsewhere, would become congested.
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The group drafted a letter to the mayor, urging him to uphold five fundamental principles. These principles encompassed a commitment to preserve the right to shelter and provide families with children accommodation in facilities equipped with private locking rooms, rather than tent shelters furnished with cots.
After Hochul’s lawyer filed a letter supporting the city’s petition to amend the law and address the migrant crisis, the coalition assembled for a meeting. The letter put forth the argument that the current law is causing unexpected operational limitations for the city.
Although the governor expressed her dedication to assisting the homeless, she emphasized that the right to shelter cannot be interpreted as an unlimited invitation for all 8 billion people on the planet to arrive in New York City and expect the city to provide them with accommodations such as hotel rooms or shelters.
The right-to-shelter case has been assigned a new judge who has not yet scheduled the next court hearing.
- In:
- Eric Adams
- Kathy Hochul
- New York City
- Asylum Seekers
- Migrants