New York City's Mayor Eric Adams has issued an emergency order suspending land use rules for five days in an effort to accelerate the opening of migrant shelters. This comes as the city's services for the homeless are being overwhelmed by more than 65,000 asylum seekers who have arrived over the past year. Under the new order, the city will no longer be required to hold public hearings or undergo the typically cumbersome approval process for opening a new homeless shelter.
This is the latest in a series of extraordinary measures that Adams has undertaken to manage the influx of migrants. Last week, the Democratic mayor suspended parts of the city’s right to shelter law, which requires New York to provide housing to homeless residents. The suspension of land use rules is necessary to "meet the immediate needs of the asylum seekers while continuing to serve the tens of thousands of people" who are currently using the city's shelter system, according to the order.
Despite the fact that New York has opened 140 emergency shelters and nine humanitarian relief centers to accommodate the swell of migrants, Adams has said in recent weeks that the city has run out of space. As a result, he announced plans to send some migrants to hotels in upstate Orange and Rockland counties, a decision that was met with outrage from some local elected officials who have sued to stop the city from following through with its plans. Additionally, New York has begun using some city school buildings as facilities to house asylum seekers.
The most recent daily census available from the city Department of Homeless Services shows 79,762 people were homeless and living in city shelters as of May 14, a record high. Mayor Adams has publicly implored the Biden administration and federal officials to do more to help the city manage the surge of migrants. Despite the challenges, the city has been able to provide shelter for all asylum-seeking families that have sought it over the last year. However, without more support from federal and state partners, the city is concerned that the worst may be yet to come.