Despite its longstanding status as a so-called sanctuary jurisdiction, New York City is currently struggling to provide shelter for tens of thousands of undocumented migrants who have arrived over the course of more than a year.
In fact, Democratic Mayor Eric Adams even resorted to relocating the migrants to other locations, a tactic he denounced when it was used by Republican leaders in border states.
Furthermore, he has called for an end to the city’s court-imposed responsibility to provide shelter to anyone who needs it, insisting that there is simply no room left.
“We need help, and it’s not going to get any better,” he said. “From this moment on, it’s downhill. There is no more room.”
One tactic the city has taken to provide temporary housing involves repurposing hotels into migrant shelters. This has led to complaints of threatening and destructive behavior by the migrants and overcrowded hotels have seen a spike in individuals sleeping on the sidewalk outside.
For his part, restaurateur Danny Meyer has taken the bold step of closing down two of his restaurants that had been operating in a hotel that now serves as makeshift migrant housing.
Both Maialino and Marta have been operating inside the Redbury Hotel in Manhattan, but Union Square Hospitality Group, owned by Meyer, announced that they will both be shutting down next week.
The Redbury Hotel about 100 migrants families was just recently placed at the hotel.
Some reports state that the going rate per room is about $350 per night
Video by @RepublicansNYCpic.twitter.com/7K6w98cKwG— Viral News NYC (@ViralNewsNYC) August 8, 2023
The decision was made purely for monetary reasons, the company asserted, noting that the restaurants cannot remain profitable without revenue from hotel guests and the use of certain facilities. Despite the decision to cease operations in the hotel, the company’s statement expressed support for the decision to transform guest accommodations into a migrant shelter.
“We remain fully supportive of the Redbury’s initiative and will continue advocating for policy change that expedites work permits for asylum seekers,” the statement continued.
Meyer is a frequent and consistent donor to the Democratic Party and a spokesperson asserted that he anticipates “welcoming our new neighbors and assisting the hotel with this initiative.”
As Adams continues to warn, however, transforming the Big Apple’s hotels into migrant camps is not enough to address the deepening crisis. His administration recently attracted criticism from the left for distributing flyers that advise: “Please consider another city as you make your decision about where to settle in the U.S.”
