By Marlyn Montilla
30 Oct 2023, 09:39 AM EDT
New York City is moving quickly to open a large new shelter for migrant families at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn.
This shelter is designed with the objective of housing migrant families, however, local leaders and politicians are concerned about issues such as security.
Families with children will temporarily live there in a concentrated environment and could arrive in the coming days.
Runway 19 at the former naval air station could accommodate people with trailers with a bathroom and shower, a processing center, a medical center and a cafeteria.
As part of the agreement, the state of New York will reimburse the Big Apple for the cost of using that location. But this decision has not been free of controversy.
For his part, Mayor Eric Adams indicated that it is a safe site, but Brooklyn leaders have made their concerns known following an inspection by the New York Fire Department, ABC 7 NY reported.
Likewise, Republican Councilwoman Joann Ariola disclosed the following on her social networks: “Bennett Field is not only a flood zone, but now it is also a fire trap. Placing children here is unacceptable.”
“This is absolutely a catastrophe waiting to happen: an ‘unreliable’ fire. “There are fire hydrants almost half a mile away and lithium-ion powered mobility devices in the area is a recipe for disaster.”
He further added: “This is what we have been trying to say. What will it take for people to start learning what it means to leave space? “We are placing people in conditions that are unfair to immigrants and to the taxpayers of New York City.”
“We have run out of space. It’s not a question of if people will sleep on the streets, but when. We are at full capacity,” concluded Ariola.
Immigrant families will be able to stay at the Brooklyn shelter for 60 days, now that New York City has limited the time they are allowed to stay in a Big Apple shelter.
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