WORLD WORLDWIDE USA New York NY New York City NYC the city THE CITY News Journal Update - Floyd Bennett Field migrants moved to high school hours before storm, takeaways from Hochul’s State of the State, Twin Parks Fire victims remembered

 

Dear New Yorkers,

As yesterday’s storm bore down on the city, city officials evacuated nearly 2,000 parents and children living in tents at the Floyd Bennett Field migrant shelter to a nearby high school.

The order to evacuate came just hours before the rain started falling — and on the same day children and parents were evicted from a Manhattan hotel after 60-day stays expired.

The sudden move by the Adams administration drew ire from all sides, with homeless rights advocates and the migrants themselves decrying the disruption for families, and local parents slamming the city’s use of a public school as an emergency shelter. Classes are being held remotely today to accommodate the change.

The Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless issued a joint statement slamming the hasty decision to empty the shelter as “traumatic and disruptive”:

“This last-minute evacuation further proves that Floyd Bennett Field — a facility mired in a flood zone, miles from schools and other services — has never and will never serve as an appropriate and safe place to shelter families with children,” the group said.

Read more about how the storm affected migrant families here.

Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Wednesday's Weather Rating: 3/10. Heavy rain clears out this morning with temperatures falling into the 40s as the day goes on. Partly cloudy later, but very windy with gusts occasionally over 35 mph. The vibes are all over the place today.

Our Other Top Story

In her State of the State address yesterday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a series of politically popular proposals that are likely to be well received in the legislature, from protecting New Yorkers from medical debt to adding more swimming pools. But she also said she was opposed to tax increases, including those on the wealthy, which could set up a confrontation with progressive Democrats. And in a surprise, she revived many proposals she had made last year to increase housing construction, which the legislature refused to act on.

Reporter’s Notebook

Mayor’s Budget Cuts Probably Won’t Affect Services, Think Tank Finds

Most of the budget cuts ordered up by Mayor Eric Adams in November are not expected to directly affect city services, according to a new analysis by the nonpartisan nonprofit group the Citizens Budget Commission released early Wednesday — ahead of more expected belt-tightening next week.

Around 80% of the savings found at city agencies — dubbed “Programs to Eliminate the Gap,” or PEGs — were through so-called efficiencies, re-estimating what programs actually cost, shifting costs from the city to state or federal government, and from eliminating already vacant positions, the city-budget focused think tank concluded.

And although all agencies were ordered to trim at least 3% in this round, some slashed up to 4.5% — and nearly 17% at the Department of Finance, according to the CBC. Other agencies reduced less, like the Department of Homeless Services, which cut 1.4%, and the Law Department, which cut 2.5%.

Meanwhile, more cuts are expected next week as Adams unveils his January modified spending plan to address a $7 billion budget gap.

— Katie Honan

Twin Parks Fire Victims Remembered

Mourners including Mayor Eric Adams gathered at Twins Parks North West in The Bronx Tuesday to memorialize the 17 victims of a deadly five-alarm fire exactly two years ago.

One of the deadliest fires in the city’s history, the Fordham Heights blaze displaced dozens who lived in the 19-story building, some of whom were still struggling with housing security more than a year after the tragedy. Most of the victims were of Gambian descent.

Officials determined that a malfunctioning electric space heater started the fire, which was able to spread rapidly due to two self-closing doors that, unlawfully, wouldn’t shut completely. A July 2019 state inspection had revealed the faulty door issue, according to documents obtained by THE CITY in 2022.

In response to the fire, city, state and federal officials passed legislation creating new standards for those doors, enhancing safety requirements for space heaters, and establishing a new team of fire investigators.

— Jonathan Custodio

Things To Do

Here’s what’s going on around the city this week.

Thursday, Jan. 11: New York on Film: “Do the Right Thing,” a 35th anniversary screening of the classic Spike Lee film with an introduction by film scholar Racquel Gates. Tickets are $20 ($15 for members). The event starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Museum of the City of New York. Friday, Jan. 12: The first day of expanded Free Fridays at the Whitney Museum, which is now open for free admission from 5 to 10 p.m. every Friday. Saturday, Jan. 13: Birding with NYC Audubon. Free (RSVP encouraged) from 10 to 11:30 a.m., at both Prospect Park in Brooklyn and at Brookville Park in Queens.

THE KICKER: H Mart will open a huge food court in its “Long Island City” branch (we say it’s actually Woodside) this spring.

Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Wednesday.

Love,

THE CITY

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