The historic Roosevelt Hotel opened its doors to 20 busloads of migrants as an “asylum seeker arrival center” on Friday as New York City continues to grapple with an influx of migrants from the southern border.
An MTA bus loaded with men, women and children pulled up at the iconic building at 45 E. 45th St. shortly before 7 a.m. The new arrivals clutched brown envelopes and walked in single file.
Photos from inside the building showed the luxury interior covered in signs indicating areas for check-in and registration, as well as chairs with forms about emergency medical services.
The hotel, which first opened its doors in 1924, has been the backdrop for a string of Hollywood films — including “Maid in Manhattan,” “Malcolm X,” “Wall Street,” “The French Connection,” “The Irishman” and “Man on a Ledge.”
On Friday, guards from Mulligan Security were posted outside the building.
Most of the crowd looked happy, flashing peace signs and thumbs-up as they were ushered inside.
One man, however, pulled his hoodie down to cover his face. There was a brief, non-violent conflict as hotel employees asked photographers to move out of the way.
Around 8:30 a.m., the MTA bus took single men and some women away. There were also two other buses parked on Madison Avenue and East 45th, ready to take the processed migrants away from the site.
One volunteer told The Post that hotels are coveted spots usually given to families and single women with children. Others – mostly single men – have resorted to sleeping in the subways because other shelters are unsafe. --->READ MORE HERE
As more migrants arrive, Mayor says NYC has 'run out of space'
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- The Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown began welcoming migrants as the latest round of buses from southern states arrived early Friday.
The first of 15 expected buses arrived in New York City and took migrants to the hotel around 7 a.m.
The city is transitioning its welcoming services from the Port Authority, where volunteers played a key role, to the Roosevelt Hotel which is being run by NYC Health + Hospitals.
The Roosevelt went out of business during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been closed for three years.
Now, Mayor Eric Adams' office says it will serve as a centralized intake center during this migrant crisis.
It is opening up 175 rooms for children and families until it is scaled to approximately 850 rooms.
Asylum seekers will have access to a range of legal and medical services, as well as placement, if needed, in a shelter.
Asylum seekers currently in the city's care will also be able to visit the arrival center to access the host of services.
Officials say the hotel is anticipated to provide some much-needed support in this crisis. --->READ MORE HERE
If you like what you see, please "Like" and/or Follow us on FACEBOOK here, GETTR here, and TWITTER here.
No comments:
Post a Comment