Orangetown Updates

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐉𝐫.
We are and have always been a nation of immigrants – people in search of freedom and democracy, who love their families and work hard to make their American dream come true. Immigrants built this country and continue to make it a better place every day.
Rockland County has always welcomed newcomers and this past year, which saw a significant influx of migrants to the county, has been no different, but it has placed a strain on local services.
Without consulting Rockland County officials, the New York City Mayor’s Office decided to send 340 migrants without a thought of whether Rockland would be able to care for these individuals.
Some facts that could have been shared had Mayor Adams reached out prior to deciding to send those 340 migrants to a hotel in Orangeburg.
Between September 2022 and March 2023, Rockland County experienced the following:- A 35 percent increase in the number of children under foster care.- More than 1,000 new students enrolling in a single school district, most needing ESL classes.- Food pantries that simply ran out of food.
– In April, Catholic Charities, one of the county’s nonprofit contract agencies, reported that more than 475 households sought food from its pantry, more than double the number seen three years ago.- In February, the county’s warming center averaged more than 60 guests per night, with 220 individuals receiving services, an increase of 50 percent versus the previous year.- More than 80 people are currently homeless in Rockland County, but through a variety of partnerships, are being housed and receiving the types of services that will hopefully result in permanent housing.
– There is a tremendous shortage of affordable housing in Rockland County and several nonprofits, including Catholic Charities, have expressed concern about meeting the need for residents already here and receiving services, let alone trying to help additional newcomers.
Migrants in need of assistance have fled not only extreme poverty, but failed regimes, gang warfare, drug cartels and much more. Many have arrived in the United States with little more than the clothes they are wearing and sometimes, a small bag of personal belongings. These are human beings in need and they don’t need to be pawns in a political tussle. They need housing, food, medical attention, education, and jobs – and they will need support for months.
Rockland County is not set up to handle such demands nor should local taxpayers have to bear the load of such expenses. Clearly, the Federal Government in Washington needs to act – all of Washington – the President, the House and the Senate to either stem the tide of migrants or find a system to help these individuals.
In the meantime, Rockland County legislators are reaching out to the New York City mayor’s office. We will be asking him to reconsider his ill-conceived plan.
An uncoordinated effort to drop people off by the bus load is just not a workable solution. It’s an irresponsible plan that helps no one, not the migrants, local residents, taxpayers or town and county governments left shouldering the burden.