Sources: Mayor Adams suggests to Gov. Hochul that LI sites be used for migrant housing
The letter, filed Tuesday night, included a list of Long Island facilities, including the Pilgrim Psychiatric Facility in Brentwood, Kings Park Psychiatric Center in Kings Park and Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach.
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Multiple sources confirmed to News 12 that New York City Mayor Eric Adams sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul saying he would like the state to move asylum seekers to several locations outside of the city, including to three Suffolk County communities.
The letter, filed Tuesday night, included a list of Long Island facilities, including the Pilgrim Psychiatric Facility in Brentwood, Kings Park Psychiatric Center in Kings Park and Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach.
During a Thursday address about the future of the migrant crisis in New York, Gov. Hochul suggested the idea was a non-starter.
"We cannot and will not force other parts of our state to shelter migrants,” she said.
News 12 reached out to the governor's office for a comment about the letter but was referred to her address when she said the following.
"In 1981, the city of New York and a coalition for the homeless signed an agreement that the city would provide shelter for anyone who seeks it,” said Gov. Hochul. “This is an agreement that does not apply to the states other 57 counties."
Mayor Adams' Office released a statement following the governor's address saying in part:
“The status quo cannot continue. Whatever differences we all may have about how to handle this crisis; we believe whatever obligations apply under state law to the City Of New York apply to every county across New York state. We're asking the governor to use her powers to prevent counties from issuing exclusionary emergency orders and give us the resources needed to get people out of shelter, so that they can move on to the next steps in their journeys."
As a reminder, Nassau and Suffolk county officials have already spoken out against allowing migrant housing facilities to operate in the counties.
