This week, we asked readers their thoughts on the plan to house asylum seekers at a temporary shelter that was being built on the Orchard Beach parking lot in the Northeast Bronx, but which has, in the meantime, been moved to Randall’s Island.

 

“I think it’s completely irresponsible for anybody to be putting something over there based on the fact that it’s in a flood zone, based on the fact that there’s no form of transportation for these people, which is pretty much inhumane. Why do they always consider The Bronx the dumping ground for society’s problems? They started on Monday, and I saw them. I wonder what’s going to happen when the hurricane from Florida is going to come up here and it’s going to flood out that place. Find another place for these people and not do it in The Bronx! I am done with dumping in The Bronx.”

Renata Sclavo,

Indian Village

 

“I’m not familiar with this issue, but I did look at articles in regard to it, and I feel that the City focuses so much on those coming in, but not necessarily helping people that are already here. During the pandemic, I had a lot of issues with people who [were] mentally challenged in my neighborhood and that’s what made me leave Harlem for University Heights. But I notice there’s been a slow rebuild in regard to the area, people being on the trains… It’s unfortunate. I look at these scenarios and I feel bad for the people that are coming in, immigrants, refugees. I feel bad for them because they don’t have that support system.”

Joseph Landon,

University Heights

 

“It’s great! I’m glad. I hope they build more! I’m very serious… Why are they calling people criminals? Of course, I support them. We’ve been having a lot of storms. Okay, they do what they’ve got to do. They can speak up; it’s freedom of speech, man. I may be a lone solider, but all these people have their roots in other countries. They definitely forgot that.”

Robert Diaz,

Soundview

 

“My thoughts are simply that this is just another thing that has been basically snuck into a community. I mean, we’ve been battling a lot of things without prior knowledge, and this is just another one of those things. We know from just the dynamic globally as well as nationally, that this is just another group being used as pawns in a political theater, which just defies words. It defies logic to use human beings as pawns. Communities just want to have a say in what goes on in their neighborhoods.”

George Hav,

Spencer Estates

“It was sprung on the community, but we need our elected leaders, from Gov. [Kathy] Hochul down to make sure to say this is not the appropriate place, not to be using them as pawns. Also, they crossed over the border illegally; have it done the right way! Have them vetted so that the community understands who is here. Every unvetted single man that’s here has crossed over illegally, and then claimed asylum. That’s not how it works. So, we’re asking our elected officials to do the right thing. Do stuff by law to protect them and also to protect the community.”

Bernadette Ferrara,

Van Nest

 

Editor’s Note: Bernadette Ferrara previously ran for city council in the 2021 Democratic Primary in District 15.

As reported, Mayor Eric Adams first announced on Sept. 22 that “the City will open Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers to support the hundreds of asylum seekers arriving in New York City each day from Texas and other border states.” As also reported, he later announced the Orchard Beach center would be moved to Randall’s Island. Norwood News asked City officials for comment on Ferrara’s allegations that the immigrants crossed the border illegally. We were referred to the following page on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website.

 

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