Politico: New York City relocates migrant tent camp

[brooklynite]

When New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced plans for a tent city to shelter migrants at the Bronx’s Orchard Beach, critics quickly pointed out that the area was prone to flooding and called the idea all wet. The city pressed forward anyway, erecting large white tents at the site. Then came three straight days of nonstop rain. And now, sure enough, the emergency shelter site has flooded and the city has scrapped the Orchard Beach plan.

Late Monday night, Adams announced that instead of a 1,000-person site in the Bronx, the city will set up a camp half that size on Randall’s Island.

“Safety for those seeking asylum remains our top priority," Adams said. "Following this weekend's storms, New York City Emergency Management determined that, while we would be able to put in place the necessary ponding mitigation measures, relocating the Orchard Beach humanitarian relief center to Randall's Island is the most efficient and effective path forward.”

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson was among those voicing concerns that the Bronx site was prone to flooding before construction began. Assemblymembers in the borough also objected, saying the site was an hour by bus from the nearest grocery store and wouldn’t be habitable in the winter months. As the remnants of Hurricane Ian hit the city over the weekend, South Bronx Mutual Aid reported that the site was swamped after just over half an inch of rain.

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook/2022/10/04/new-york-city-relocates-migrant-tent-camp-00060197