Bronx residents voice concerns over planned migration relief center at Orchard Beach

Bronx residents got a chance to weigh in on tents being built at Orchard Beach to house and process the influx of asylum seekers arriving to our city since this summer.

News 12 Staff

Sep 28, 2022, 10:30 AM

Updated 805 days ago

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Bronx residents got a chance to weigh in on tents being built at Orchard Beach to house and process the influx of asylum seekers arriving to our city since this summer.
The biggest concerns residents voiced Tuesday night at a community meeting were safety, how long this would last and what services will be provided.
Mayor Eric Adams emphasized that this facility would only hold asylum seekers up to four days. It will also be only for adults, and is expected to house up to 1,000 people.
Many of the migrants have arrived in the city on buses from states like Texas and Florida where the state’s governors have sent them to New York and D.C. in protest against President Joe Biden's open immigration policies.
Neighbors at Tuesday's meeting in the Bronx are concerned about how this could impact them and their families.
"We're generous people for the most part, we have food pantries and stuff like that. But I don't know what the situation is going to be with these people. Will they be able to get where they need to go, there's only one supermarket here, are they going to need food? Are they going to be fed? Are they going to be taken care of?" says Barbara Dolensek, board member of the City Island Civic Association.
The mayor also emphasized that he does not believe the city should have to choose between helping migrants and taking care of New Yorkers. Mayor Adams says he is asking the federal government for more help.
This migrant relief center could be open in the next few weeks.