Another large protest held on Staten Island over asylum seeker shelter at former school
NEW YORK -- Pressure is building on President Joe Biden and members of Congress to help New York deal with the tens of thousands of asylum seekers who have arrived here.
Another large protest was held on Staten Island on Monday night.
A coalition of some of the state's top business leaders have sent a letter to the president and Congress, saying, in part, "We urge you to take immediate action to better control the border and the process of asylum and provide relief to the cities and states that are bearing the burdens."
READ MORE: New York business leaders send letter urging President Biden to send help in asylum seeker crisis
Last week, instead of sending monetary aid, the Homeland Security secretary sent letters to Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams complaining of structural and operational issues in the way New York deals with the asylum seeker influx.
"The crisis originated with the federal government and must be resolved through the federal government," Hochul said.
This comes as hundreds of people attended a rally in the Arrochar section of Staten Island against a former Catholic school being used as a property to house asylum seekers.
Among the many things said Monday night were chants of "One-term mayor! One-term mayor!"
READ MORE: Protesters gather outside Gracie Mansion, say Mayor Adams should house asylum seekers there
Adams' office said 22 asylum seekers are staying at St. John Villa Academy, but it can hold up to 300.
"That's only 22 now. Who's going to know next month how many going to be here?" Great Kills resident Mike Casstagliola said.
"I'm hoping they put them elsewhere not in the middle of residential area," Kat Oines said.
"Right here, 40 feet across the street is a girls school. Another school across street and a playground," added Scott Lobaido, who organized the protest.
The shelter opened Friday. Lawmakers and residents sued and a judge issued a temporary restraining order, blocking the city from using the site. However, a few hours later the city won an emergency appeal.
"We love our freedom and we're not going to back down," state Sen. Andrew Lanza said.
READ MORE: Gov. Kathy Hochul calls on Biden administration to expedite work authorization for asylum seekers
A spokesperson for the mayor said, in part, "We empathize with their concerns. ... We have opened 206 sites, including 15 large-scale humanitarian relief centers. ... The sites we are now finding are the only options left. This situation demands a broader state and national solution."
"If you're not going to do your job, mayor, then let Staten Island secede," Rep. Nicole Malliotakis said.
The next hearing in the lawsuit is on Sept. 6.
The Homeland Security secretary did tell the mayor and the governor that the agency has identified 11 federal sites throughout New York that can be used to house asylum seekers, but that just exacerbated tensions between the two top Democrats.
The governor has resisted the mayor's pleas to move asylum seekers to locations outside the five boroughs.
