WORLD WORLDWIDE US USA New York NY New York City NYC the city THE CITY News Journal UPDATE - Migrant youth shelter denials, tobacco sweatshop probe, ‘Bling Bishop’ convicted

 

Dear New Yorkers,

In the depths of January, without a coat on his back, an 18-year-old orphan from Guinea named Mamdou spent a week riding the subways before a stranger handed him a $20 bill and led him to the Roosevelt Hotel, the city’s main intake for newly arriving migrants. He got a 30-day shelter stint in a converted office tower in Midtown and a few weeks of relative peace after a perilous journey across the world.

His anxiety built as his 30-day eviction day neared, under Mayor Eric Adams’ strict limits on stays for adult migrants in shelters. He’d heard about Covenant House, a special youth shelter for people under the age of 21 overseen by the city’s Department of Youth and Community Development, and was determined to secure a bed there.

“I went there every day, sometimes two or three times a day. They know me there,” he said, two days after he’d been ejected from his Midtown shelter once his 30 days were up.

Both nights since his eviction he’d slept outside on the sidewalk. “But every day when I go there they tell me there’s no room.”

The migrant crisis is increasingly intertwined with another crisis: an explosion in the number of homeless youth. Data obtained by THE CITY shows a dramatic increase in young adults being turned away from specialized shelters.

Service providers and advocates had warned for months that the city’s migrant response does not address the needs of the many young people arriving in New York on their own. And those advocates say the official rejection numbers don’t begin to document just how many young people are unable to find a spot in a homeless youth shelter.

“I’ve been doing this work for 20 years,” said Jamie Powlovich, director of the Coalition for Homeless Youth. “I have never seen the level of unmet needs and young people being further traumatized and forced to endure homelessness, especially street homelessness, ever.”

Read more about how the youth shelter system locks out migrants here.

Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Tuesday's Weather Rating: 9/10. OK, YES. A bit chilly and windy early, but high temperatures reach the lower 60s by this afternoon with lots of sunshine and a lighter breeze. What more could you ask for in March? The vibes are pretty dang good out there!

Our Other Top Stories

A northeast Brooklyn tobacco factory that produces “grabba” sold in local bodegas and smoke shops has been hit by probes from both state and federal agencies. That follows reporting by THE CITY about migrant Ecuadorian women who work at the factory saying they endured illness, from dizziness and fainting to fatigue and nausea, processing tobacco leaves for HotHead Grabba LLC. At least one worker submitted a complaint to OSHA, which triggered the probe by the federal safety agency, and multiple workers submitted complaints to the state Department of Labor stating that they had not been paid for their work. On the latest episode of FAQ NYC, the hosts discuss Gov. Kathy Hochul’s wild decision to deploy the National Guard in New York City’s subway system, and much more. Listen here.

Reporter’s Notebook

‘Bling Bishop’ Convicted

Headline-grabbing Lamor Whitehead, a self-described “mentee” of Mayor Eric Adams, was found guilty of five counts on Monday in Manhattan federal court, including wire fraud and attempted extortion.

Whitehead, who founded Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries in Canarsie after serving a previous prison term for identity theft, was convicted by a jury for crimes including stealing the life savings of the mother of one of his parishioners, an act first reported in THE CITY.

In the trial’s opening statement, prosecutors called Whitehead “a friend to the mayor of New York City” who “lied about having influence with powerful people. All with the goal of getting money and property to fund his extravagant lifestyle.”

— Harry Siegel

Things To Do

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

Wednesday, March 13: Community Gardeners in Conversation with Zachary Schulman, a conversation on the penultimate day of the photographer’s portrait exhibition. Free from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Arsenal Gallery in Central Park. Saturday, March 16: Cardboard Explosion!, a puppetry workshop and show for all ages. Workshop tickets are $5 at 1 p.m. and show tickets are $8-12 at 2:15 p.m., at Flushing Town Hall. Saturday, March 16: Introduction to Birdwatching, a guided walk for birders of all levels. Free from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., meets at the Audubon Center in Prospect Park.

THE KICKER: Brooklyn-born Malachy McCourt (brother of Frank, of “Angela’s Ashes” fame) was an actor, writer and barkeep whose fascinating life included running as the Green Party candidate in New York’s 2006 governor’s race, performing in various shows and owning what was said to have been Manhattan’s original single’s bar in the 1950s. He died on Monday at age 92.

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

Love,

THE CITY

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