Mayor responds to council criticism of Randall’s Island plan

[ad_1]

The City Council on Wednesday joined a chorus of critics opposing Mayor Eric Adams’ decision to move a migrant welcome center from Orchard Beach in the Bronx to Randalls Island.

Citing the risk of flooding and exposure to cold weather, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams urged the administration to consider indoor locations instead, including closed hotels.

Shortly after the Council released its statement, Mayor Adams responded to the criticism in an interview with Errol Louis on NY1s Inside City Hall.

I’m glad they’re coming in a spirit of cooperation, to find a solution,” Mayor Adams said. If we were to criticize what was being done during this humanitarian crisis that was created by human hands, then we would have to come up with big ideas.

What you need to know City Council President Adrienne Adams today announced her opposition to the mayors’ proposed asylum seekers reception center on Randalls Island, citing flood risk and the weather cold. hotels In an interview with NY1, Mayor Adams praised the Council’s spirit of cooperation and said he was sitting down with the speaker to discuss solutions The Mayor also said he was optimistic Council would approve a controversial housing development along Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx

The mayor was largely accommodating to the Council, which specifically pointed to 10 large-scale hotels that could be converted into rescue centers and staffed with unemployed hoteliers. Council leaders also offered ideas for getting people out of homeless shelters faster, pointing to other closed hotels that could be converted into supportive housing.

If they have specific hotels they’re talking about, Mayor Adams said, I look forward to sitting down with council and Councilor Adrienne Adams, our speaker, and coming up with those solutions.

Mayor Adams said he was consulting with the cities of Washington, DC and Chicago, which have also received busloads of migrants from Texas, and which also have black mayors.

He refrained from attributing a racial motive.

I don’t know if it’s black mayors, or if it’s just for northern cities, but something is wrong, the mayor said. I mean, we have thousands of cities in this country. Why are we specifically targeting Washington, Chicago and New York? There’s something wrong with that.

On the issue of crime, Mayor Adams said the city is not as safe as it should be. But he also pointed to an increase in transit ridership, tourism and office occupancy in the city, and said reports of crimes on the subway can create false perceptions.

When you read about them specifically, you lose the fact that the system has 3.5 million passengers a day, Mayor Adams said. And I know this town is winning. This town is back.

The mayor also addressed an affordable housing development project along Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx that drew backlash from the community and City Councilwoman Marjorie Velasquez. Adams said he’s optimistic Council will approve the necessary rezoning.

[ad_2]