WORLD WORLDWIDE USA New York NY New York City NYC the city THE CITY News Journal Update - Shelter memo, (alleged) subway sex, Legal Aid sues

 

Dear New Yorkers,

According to an internal memo obtained by THE CITY, the Adams administration intends to close the five waiting rooms where hundreds of adult migrants have spent nights on the floor or in chairs while waiting for another 30 days in a city shelter — by Feb. 26.

To do that, a city official told staffers she was “channeling Leslie Knope” — the devout public servant played by Amy Poehler in the sitcom Parks and Recreation — to try to “generate concepts and ideas” in order to deny people seeking shelter a cot.

“I apologies [sic] because this is a lot. Channeling Leslie Knope this AM,” Emily Ashton, the senior advisor of asylum seeker operations at the Office of Emergency Management, which runs the overflow sites, wrote to staffers on Saturday, Feb. 10.

“Reflecting on ways to reduce overflow sites….Goal from [City Hall] is to reduce occupancy 100% by 2/26.”

The memo shines a light on City Hall’s continued, behind-the-scenes efforts to pressure adult migrants to leave shelters. As THE CITY previously reported, few people there have accepted the city’s offer of transportation out of NYC.

But those awaiting a new shelter placement after reaching the newly instated 30-day limit have had to wait for days on end with limited access to food, showers or even bathrooms outside the city’s reticketing center, located in the East Village.

When it closes for the night, some migrants sleep outside in the cold to avoid losing their place in line. Scores of others have gone to the very waiting rooms that the memo indicates the city intends to close.

Read more about the memo here.

The Meeker Avenue Plume is New York City’s newest federal Superfund site. A pool of chemicals lurks beneath the ground, posing a risk to locals who could  be breathing in toxic fumes. The race is on to get the word out in the community. Listen to the second episode of Hazard NYC, a four-part limited series from FAQ NYC, and scroll through an immersive digital story to learn about the invisible threat looming below North Brooklyn.

Hazard NYC is sponsored, in part, by Brooklyn SolarWorks.

Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Thursday's Weather Rating: 4/10. A pleasant start to the day, with partly cloudy skies and high temperatures in the upper 30s. A bit chilly at times and becoming mostly cloudy by afternoon, with a few rain/snow showers possible tonight. The vibes are still wintry out there.

Our Other Top Story

Subway surfers took “unsafe sex” to the next level atop a 7 train in Queens. “The only thing dumber than riding on top of a subway train is dropping pants in the process,” said Tim Minton, the transit agency’s communications director, told THE CITY in response.

Reporter’s Notebook

Voucher Suit vs. Adams

Legal Aid Society lawyers on Wednesday filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of tenants to force the Adams administration to fully implement new laws that expand eligibility for housing vouchers.

The Council passed bills last year to allow more low-income people to qualify for vouchers known as CityFHEPS — and then overrode the mayor’s vetoes of those bills. The mayor’s social services commissioner, though, told the Council earlier this year that the city can’t implement the law.

Four plaintiffs were named in the suit, including Marie Vincent, who moved into a shelter last May with her 12-year-old grandson after she was evicted from her Bronx apartment when a new owner bought the building. Her job and salary from working nights cleaning a hospital currently disqualify her for a voucher under the current rules, she said.

“I would be qualified if Mayor Adams would follow the law, and I would be able to look for a new apartment,” she said — adding that she “feels punished for making a living.”

The City Council last week voted to allow the body to sue the Adams administration for not following their laws, but it is not part of the suit filed Wednesday.

— Katie Honan

Social Suit

Mayor Adams announced New York City is suing five top social media companies over the harm they have caused children — looking for help to pay for mental health services provided to teens and young adults.

The mayor announced the case against the owners of Snapchat, Instagram, Tik Tok, YouTube and Facebook, saying they are “purposefully manipulating and addicting” to get kids hooked.“We know these platforms are designed with addictive and dangerous features that take advantage of a child’s novel interest in novelty and play,” Adams said at the announcement.

Hundreds of other municipalities and school districts across the country have sued these companies over various issues, but New York City is the largest yet to file suit.

Last month, the mayor declared these apps a public health emergency during his annual State of the City address.

The four social media companies defended their safety and protocols for young people in statements to THE CITY.

Reps of the city’s leading tech and business industries blasted Adams’ lawsuit. Julie Samuels, the president and CEO of Tech:NYC, called it a “distraction.”

“Working with tech companies on a collaborative and results-oriented path forward would truly make New York a nation-leading city, and joining this lawsuit equates to a missed opportunity for the mayor,” she said in a statement.

— Katie Honan

Things To Do

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

Thursday, Feb. 15: A conversation at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden on how to join a community garden. Free from 6 to 8 p.m.  Saturday, Feb. 17: Live Mini-Portraits by Manny Vega, whose iconic mural and mosaic art is currently featured in Byzantine Bembé: New York by Manny Vega. The artist will draw portraits of museum-goers for free, which will be displayed for a limited time as part of the exhibition. Free with admission at 1 p.m., at the Museum of the City of New York. Saturday, Feb 17: Nature's Workshop: Winter Watercolor Painting, hosted by Urban Park Rangers. All art supplies provided. Free from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Crotona Nature Center in Crotona Park in The Bronx.

THE KICKER: A sociologist has published a new book about people who live in the city’s underground areas, reports Gothamist.

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

Love,

THE CITY

PS. Love THE CITY? Our nonprofit newsroom runs on support from readers like you. Donate here.

THE CITY's work is made possible, in part, through the support of our sponsors. Interested in becoming a sponsor of THE CITY? Contact us here.  Copyright © 2024 THE CITY, All rights reserved.