Migrants found living in Bronx business after FDNY responds to complaint about e-bikes
NEW YORK -- Officials say, for the second time this week, inspectors found migrants being housed in a New York City business without a permit.
The FDNY responded Wednesday to a complaint about e-bikes being illegally stored at a two-story commercial building on East Kingsbridge Road in the Fordham section of the Bronx.
In addition to the bikes and batteries, the FDNY discovered beds inside. Officials say Senegalese immigrants were staying inside the store.
Watch Naveen Dhaliwal's report
Department of Buildings inspectors say they found 34 beds on the first floor and 11 beds in the cellar tightly packed together.
In addition to that, they say they found extension cords, e-bikes, space heaters and hot plates throughout both floors.
The DOB issued a vacate order for the store due to hazardous conditions, lack of natural light and ventilation, and severe crowding.
With their suitcases packed, 10 migrants boarded a bus Wednesday night, on the move once again. One man who was displaced told CBS New York he was paying $300 a month to stay there for two months. Unbeknownst to him, the building doesn't have a permit for that. He's now in the care of the city.
Residents in the area told CBS New York's Naveen Dhaliwal they had no idea people were living inside a store.
"I didn't even know a place was there for somebody to live ... It's not safe," one person said.
"I walk by there every day, honestly. I would have never thought that was going on," another person said. "Someone needs to help them, pick them some type of shelter or something."
The owner of the Bronx building told CBS New York he is also the owner of the Queens building where dozens of migrants were also being illegally housed in the basement of a furniture store. The landlord was issued two violations and is facing thousands of dollars in fines for that incident.
He is facing two additional violations in the Bronx: one for failing to maintain the building, the other for occupying the building contrary to city records.
The city Office of Emergency Management says the 10 migrants were taken to a city migrant service center. We did reach out to the landlord, but he was not willing to talk about this situation.
