Yonkers Insider: Discussion on Proposed Shelter.

 

On Tuesday, December 7th, my office participated in a zoom meeting held by the Land Use Committee of Bronx Community Board 8. The main issue on the agenda was a proposed shelter at 6661 Broadway in the Bronx, which sits on the Yonkers border. The proposed shelter would house 130 single men. Over 200 people attended the zoom meeting, all concerned with the lack of information and transparency that has surrounded the proposed shelter. Several elected officials, or their representatives, were present including Councilman Eric Dinowitz, Assemblyman Dinowitz, Senator Alessandra Biaggi, Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins, and Congressman Jamaal Bowman.

This project is being planned with minimal community input, if any, and with strong opposition of several local elected officials. Because the site under discussion sits one city block from the 2nd council district of Yonkers, which I represent, my office has been getting many phone calls and emails about it, and I’ve had meetings with constituents that live on the Yonkers side of the border who are concerned about how this proposed shelter would affect their quality of life.

The main point of contention is that the proposed site is far removed from any services the homeless population would require, including transportation, medical services, etc. The Deputy commissioner of NYC’s Department of Homeless Services was supposed to provide answers to previously formulated questions posed by the Land Use Committee, which were sent to DHS a month before the meeting. Unfortunately, DHS provided the answers in writing only 3 minutes before the start of the meeting, so no one was able to go over them in a timely manner. The Land Use Committee of Bronx Community Board 8 has promised to share DHS’ answers in regard to the proposed shelter with me. As soon as I have them, I will share them with you.

Senator Alessandra Biaggi will be holding a public town hall meeting on Monday, December 13th at 5:30pm via zoom, which I encourage you to attend if you’re interested in learning more about the proposed shelter.

Yonkers City Council Majority Leader Corazon Pineda Issac 2nd District.