New York leaders clash with Mayor Eric Adams over migrant policies

The Orange County director thought he had a deal: New York City would wait to send buses of migrants to the town of Newburgh, NY, about 60 miles north, until some sort of agreement was reached on the practice. State officials seem to have been on the same page.

But then a Bear Mountain Bridge employee alerted Orange County Director Steven Neuhaus Thursday morning that he had seen a bus carrying New York police escorts cross the street.

The city had sent two buses of migrants. They arrived at the Crossroads Hotel in Newburgh just 15 minutes after the worker’s warning and were met by protesters and supporters, as well as local police officers who had spent the night at the hotel.

A few hours earlier, on Wednesday evening, Mayor Eric Adams’ spokesman had announced a temporary appointment pause in such transports.

A state official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said the city had not notified the state that they were resuming bus transportation, a claim echoed by Mr Neuhaus but disputed by Fabien Levy, Mr Adams’ spokesman . .

“He’s wrong and we’ve made that very clear,” said Mr. Levy. “We never said anything of that nature. Actually, we only said yesterday that the program was interrupted yesterday, but that our plans had not changed.”

The apparent miscommunication underscores the difficulties Adams faces as he frantically seeks help from his fellow New York officials in the face of a potentially dramatic increase in the already large flow of migrants to New York City.

On Thursday night, the federal government stopped using Title 42, a Trump-era policy to quickly deport hundreds of thousands of migrants, some of whom might otherwise have been granted asylum.

Thousands of asylum-seeking migrants are now expected to make their way to New York City, the only major municipality in the United States to have provided shelter for all homeless people under the “right to shelter” mandate.

While Mr Adams has warned over the past year about the impact of an increase in migrants on the city, critics say he doesn’t appear to have made as many plans. Just last Friday, he announced he would send migrants to two counties in the state, both led by Republicans. And just last Sunday he demanded city services leaders send him a list of all facilities with enough space to accommodate large numbers of migrants.

By choosing to direct the buses to Orange County, the mayor appears to have bypassed friendlier areas such as Westchester county, which is led by a Democrat.

During a tense hour-long conversation Thursday with more than 100 leaders from across the state, some leaders expressed their belief that Mr. Adams was not working effectively with colleagues.

During that conversation, a recording of which was obtained by The New York Times, Mr. Neuhaus, the Orange County executive, directly complained about the miscommunication with Mr. Adams, while also accusing the state of being an intermediary.

“Last night the governor’s office promised us that we would consider everything,” said Mr. Neuhaus. “And the City of New York sent the buses anyway.” He added, “That’s a problem, Mr. Mayor.”

“Steve, you know who doesn’t get a break?” Mr Adams replied, referring to the influx of migrants. Eric Adams.

More than 65,000 migrants have come to New York City in the past year, according to new figures released by city officials on that call, and nearly 40,000 of them remain in city care in 130 emergency shelters and eight large-scale centers.

During the telephone conversation, Mr. Adams to state leaders for not joining him in lobbying Washington for more help dealing with the migrants.

But leaders in the state said they had not been following news about New York City’s migrant issue very closely and could not be expected to lobby independently on behalf of the city.

Several state officials compared the actions of Mr. Adams with that of Governor Greg Abbott, a Texas Republican who bussed migrants to New York City with little notice and no funds.

Mr Adams, on the other hand, has pledged to fund up to four months of hotel accommodation and services for migrants who voluntarily go to the suburbs, and during Thursday’s call told state officials he would not leave them stranded.

“I treat your towns, your cities, as I would like those who transport people to treat me,” said Mr. Adams.

On Wednesday night, Mr Adams also took the step of suspending some rules around the right to shelter, including rules governing how quickly the city must move families with children into private rooms with bathrooms and kitchens.

“This was a difficult decision,” said Mr. Adams at a press conference Thursday. “But it is the right decision. This is just wrong what is happening to New York City. It’s wrong. And nobody seems to care.”

At a rally Thursday in a park near City Hall, immigration advocates argued that the expiration of Title 42 was an opportunity for the city to continue its historic role of welcoming immigrants.

They held signs reading “Immigrants are New York” and called on President Biden to do more to help the city.

“We need federal funds because people are going to come to the city,” said Carlina Rivera, an alderman representing Manhattan’s Lower East Side. “They see the lady in the harbour. They know we are a haven.”