The controversial migrant encampment at Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field will remain for another year, after the National Parks Service agreed to the Adams administration’s request for a lease extension. The original lease was set to expire, but the extension was granted due to New York state’s continued emergency declaration. The National Parks Service emphasized that visitor access, public safety, and the preservation of natural and cultural resources are top priorities while the shelter remains in operation.
Since the migrant shelter was set up, residents of nearby communities like Brooklyn’s Marine Park and the Rockaways have complained about increased shoplifting, panhandling, and other unsavory activities in their neighborhoods. Councilwoman Joann Ariola expressed frustration at the extension of the shelter, stating that the people in Rockaway and southern Brooklyn have made it clear that they do not want a shelter in Floyd Bennett Field. Governor Hochul agreed last year to have the state cover the monthly lease payments for the city to operate the tent shelter, while the city is responsible for busing migrant students to school.
A recent rally outside the shelter, which included activists, politicians, and other fed-up New Yorkers, aimed to block the lease extension. The protest involved a caravan of more than 30 vehicles and was part of a series of demonstrations against the asylum-seeker encampment. Despite the local outrage, City Hall maintains that the shelter is necessary to accommodate the influx of new arrivals, as over 214,000 migrants have arrived in NYC over the past two years. The provision of housing and services to migrant arrivals has already cost city taxpayers more than $5 billion.
The former airfield at Floyd Bennett Field has seen unrest and violence, including a domestic assault in December, a gun bust, and a number of assault arrests. In January, migrants, including children, had to be evacuated from the site in the middle of the night due to concerns about dangerous winds that could cause tents to topple or lead to fatal flooding. Despite these challenges, the National Parks Service and city officials believe that the shelter is necessary to provide temporary housing for migrants while also ensuring the safety of visitors and the preservation of resources at Floyd Bennett Field.
City officials have made it clear that the temporary shelter at Floyd Bennett Field is needed to assist with the ongoing migrant crisis, even though it has faced significant opposition from local residents and officials. The extension of the lease for the shelter indicates the city’s commitment to providing support for migrants who have arrived in New York City in large numbers in recent years. While concerns about safety and the impact on nearby communities persist, the shelter will continue to operate while efforts are made to address the challenges it poses.
