Brooklyn Residents Outraged by Male-Only Migrant Shelter Near Elementary School

Brooklyn residents express outrage over the city's decision to open a male-only migrant shelter just feet away from an elementary school, citing concerns over transparency, building code violations, and potential safety risks.

As New York City students prepare to return to class, residents in Brooklyn are expressing outrage over the city's decision to open a 400-bed migrant shelter just feet away from an elementary school. The shelter, located in Gowanus, approximately 1,000 feet from City Life Academy, has raised concerns among parents, school leaders, and community members.

Irina Edelstein, a Brooklyn mother, expressed her anxiety about the shelter's proximity to the school. "There's enough running around and getting ready for school as it is," she said. "Trying not to let anxiety get to me."

Brooklyn Residents Outraged by Male-Only Migrant Shelter Near Elementary School

City officials are accused of not informing the community about the shelter's opening, leaving residents and school staff unaware. "No one told us from the city side about the shelter's coming up," Edelstein said. "We found out from local residents when they stopped us at the pickup and they said, 'did you guys know right around the corner here, the shelter's opening up for 400 men?' None of us knew. Even the principal didn't know."

The shelter's opening has also raised concerns over building code violations and environmental testing protocols. According to an investigation by the International Women's Forum (IWF), city officials violated codes and accelerated the shelter's opening. "Our school hosted the meeting where council members said that 'we reached out to all the schools, we spoke to all the principals,' which is absolutely not true," Edelstein said.

Brooklyn Residents Outraged by Male-Only Migrant Shelter Near Elementary School

The New York City Mayor's Office has yet to respond to requests for comment.

The migrant surge in New York City has placed a strain on resources and services, with the city already spending an estimated $5 billion over the last two years on sanctuary city services. The influx of migrants has also led to an increase in crime, including high-profile incidents such as the attack on NYPD officers earlier this year.

Brooklyn Residents Outraged by Male-Only Migrant Shelter Near Elementary School

Edelstein recounted an incident where an alleged migrant was seen attempting to break into her car while she was picking up her children from school. "I was walking back to my car and one parent stopped me and she said, 'there are two guys [that] just walked by your car and tried to open it while you were inside the school.' And she said that looked like the guys who were residents of the nearby shelter," she said.

The safety concerns raised by residents are compounded by the fact that the shelter is intended for single adult males only. This exclusionary policy has raised further questions about the city's priorities and the well-being of the community's children.

As the city grapples with the ongoing migrant crisis, the decision to open the male-only shelter near an elementary school has sparked outrage and mistrust among Brooklyn residents. They demand transparency, accountability, and a commitment to the safety and well-being of all members of the community.