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Dear New Yorkers,

Hundreds of African migrants descended on City Hall yesterday morning ahead of a City Council hearing on the experiences of Black migrants arriving in the five boroughs.

Advocates have warned for months that new arrivals from African countries, many with specific dietary and language needs, need stronger support from the city’s response systems.

The hearing, hosted by the Council’s immigration and hospital committees, had aimed to spotlight the experiences of African migrants — who now account for 16% of the 64,000 migrants living in New York City shelters, up from 13% last fall.

The number of African migrants crossing the U.S. border has soared in the past two years, as Europe has cracked down.

Given the city’s strict time limit on their shelter stays, many African migrants have taken to living in ad hoc settings inside of mosques or commercial spaces. The surge in African migrants in shelters has carried over into shelters for younger New Yorkers, since many new arrivals are under the age of 21.

Word about the hearing had spread among migrants through WhatsApp messages and groups, as did some misinformation. Several migrants who spoke with THE CITY said they thought the Council might vote to give them work permits. One teen shared a WhatsApp video in French incorrectly telling people they would be given $5,000 or $10,000 debit cards for food supplies.

Read more about the impromptu rally and issues facing African migrants here.

Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Wednesday's Weather Rating: 5/10. A nice start, with partly sunny skies and high temperatures reaching the lower 60s. Clouds increase this afternoon though, and showers move in later today. Onshore winds cool things down tonight. The vibes are trending in the wrong direction!

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Earlier this week, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a state budget deal that gave the governor wins on many of her most urgent priorities, such as a housing compromise intended to jumpstart construction in NYC and steps to close illegal cannabis shops. It also will be a major victory for Mayor Eric Adams, who needed the housing action to address a crisis-level shortage. — The budget pact also gives New York City $2.4 billion to help pay for local migrant response and a possible two-year extension of mayoral control over schools. But all of that comes with a big price tag: the deal was achieved in part by agreeing to legislators’ demands to spend billions more in the coming year. Dawn Pinnock, commissioner of the agency that manages the city’s $2 billion purchasing and real estate holdings, announced her resignation on Tuesday. In her email to staff of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, Pinnock wrote she would depart in June to accept a position “in the non-profit sector.” The sudden announcement made no mention of a successor. Pinnock is yet another top official in Mayor Eric Adams’ administration to leave before he finishes his first term at City Hall. The list includes his police commissioner, his general counsel, his housing czar and the head of the buildings department.

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Reporter’s Notebook

Rockin’ the Boats

Abandoned and derelict “ghost boats” are the target of a newly-formed office set to clean up city shores.

Officials this week announced the creation of the Office of Marine Debris Disposal and Vessel Surrendering, as required by a law passed last year in the City Council sponsored by Councilmember Joann Ariola (R-Queens.) It formalizes work done jointly by the Department of Parks and Recreation and Department of Citywide Administrative Services to remove ditched watercraft — some of which have been in the water since 2012’s Hurricane Sandy.

There are now an estimated 800-plus abandoned boats along the city’s 520 miles of shore, according to the parks department — 200 more than at the beginning of the year, when THE CITY wrote about derelict boats haunting City Island in The Bronx.

“Our work caring for our city's natural spaces doesn't stop at the water's edge, and this new program underscores our commitment to maintaining safe, healthy spaces that New Yorkers can take pride in and enjoy,” Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue said in a statement.

— Katie Honan

Things To Do

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

Wednesday, April 17: Henry Street Settlement’s 9th Annual Lillian Wald Symposium on “Welcoming Our New Migrant Neighbors.” Free from 6 to 8 p.m. at Abrons Arts Center in Manhattan. Thursday, April 18: Spring Wildflower Walk, an educational walk led by Urban Park Rangers that teaches botany basics, plus how to identify different species of flowers. Free from 3 to 4 p.m. at Seton Falls Park in The Bronx. Saturday, April 20: Family Day: Spring Fest, with musical performances and activities for families. Free (first come, first served) from 12 to 4 p.m. at Carnegie Hall’s Resnick Education Wing.

THE KICKER: Coney Island’s Luna Park, which is currently normally open only on weekends, will be open throughout the upcoming spring break for city schools: Friday, April 19 to Tuesday, April 30, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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

Love,

THE CITY

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