Sunset Park Is Hopping Mad Over De Blasio's Hotel Shelters
When news broke just before Sunset Park’s final community board meeting of last year that the New York City Department of Homeless Services was moving homeless people into a neighborhood hotel, locals spoke out, with the outgoing chair of the board, Daniel Murphy, saying the city was using Sunset Park as a “dumping ground” for the homeless.
A few weeks later, tempers remained high. A woman standing on a stoop across from the shelter on a recent morning said she was “disgusted” with the way the city had handled the situation.
“All of us have put in complaints, everyone on this block,” said the woman, who asked to be identified only as Jennifer. “We’ve told the community board, the councilman, because the city is pushing this down our throats.
“This hotel used to be a part of this block,” she continued. “The owner used to help us throw the block party every year. Now late at night they’re crowding around, smoking, drinking, throwing garbage,” she said, gesturing at trash strewn next to the hotel. “Everyone on this block, they all feel the same way. We’re scared, we’re tired, we’ve had enough of it.”
Read more: https://www.villagevoice.com/2018/01/18/sunset-park-is-hopping-mad-over-de-blasios-hotel-shelters/