Tensions between lawmakers over how to deal with the city’s immigrant crisis are heating up — with a Queens socialist offering her district as a location for shelters for new immigrants.
More than 100,000 immigrants have arrived in the Big Apple since April 2022 — with another 10,000 arriving each month.
Jessica González-Rojas, whose north-central district snakes through Ditmars all the way to Jackson Heights — made the offer Aug. 24 in a contentious Zoom call organized by the mayor’s office to coordinate immigration efforts between city and state lawmakers.
Tensions are running high over capacity issues with moderate and conservative lawmakers reiterating that the city’s long-standing “right to asylum” policy cannot be sustained in the face of an unlimited influx of immigrants.
“You can take all the new shelters,” Staten Island Republican councilman David Carr said in a Zoom text group chat obtained by The Post.
“I would be honored to,” González-Rojas replied.
Queens Socialist Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas generously offered her district as the place to build all the new urban immigrant shelters. AP
González-Rojas made the offer during a contentious Zoom call with Republican lawmakers.
“Glad to hear that AM Gonzalez-Rojas,” Carr said — adding that he would follow up with Tiffany Raspberry, Mayor Adams’ director of intergovernmental and external affairs to discuss how best to move forward with the offer.
Gonzalez-Rojas, however, went radio silent.
“I emailed Tiffany. I followed up but I have yet to hear back from the assemblyman,” Carr told The Post. “Every time the gloves are put down for someone from the left when they open their mouths they can’t be found.”
When reached by The Post, González-Rojas did not back down. “The Queen and my district are not new to serving and caring for our immigrant population. We are its hub and proud of it,” he said.
Staten Island GOP Councilman David Carr said he is in contact with the city to pursue González-Rojas’ idea. Paul Martinka
Carr is under pressure to scrap a city plan to open a new sanctuary at a former Catholic school in his northern Staten Island district that has drawn ire from his constituents — even sparking new calls for the island to secede from the city.
Last week a judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the shelter – which Carr warned was just the beginning.
“My colleagues and I will continue to fight this matter in court, and the Staten Island judge’s decision to issue a temporary restraining order in this case shows how strong our case on behalf of Staten Islanders really is,” Carr said.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
