The controversial migrant camp at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn will remain open for another year, The Washington Post has learned.
The National Park Service, which manages the historic former airfield on Flatbush Boulevard, notified city officials Friday that it had agreed to extend the lease at the Adams administration's request and continue to operate the 2,000-bed tent city.
The original lease was set to expire Saturday.
“This extension request was thoroughly reviewed and is in response to New York State's continuing declared state of emergency,” wrote Jennifer T. Narsesian, superintendent of Gateway National Recreation Area, part of the National Park Service.
“As stewards of this site, visitor access, public safety and protection of natural and cultural resources are our top priorities,” she added. “Our team has worked to ensure Floyd Bennett Field remains open to the public throughout the term of the lease and will continue to do so during the lease extension.”
Since the migrant shelters opened, residents of quiet communities in Marine Park, the Rockaways and other nearby Brooklyn neighborhoods have complained that new immigrants are bringing shoplifting, begging, street scams and other illegal activity to their neighborhoods.
“With the people who live in Rockaway [southern] “Brooklyn has made it abundantly clear that they do not want shelters at Floyd Bennett Field,” an outraged City Council Member Joan Arriola (R-Queens) said upon learning of the extension.
“I will continue to explore ways to reverse our city of refuge status and end the immigration crisis. We cannot continue to pour taxpayer money into failing projects that put New Yorkers at risk and take City funds away from those who need it most.”
Last year, Gov. Hokell agreed to have the state cover the $1,733,750 monthly lease payments the city needs to operate the tent shelter, while New York City foots the bill by paying $625,000 a year to get migrant students from hard-to-reach areas to attend school.
Dozens of activists, politicians and other fed-up New Yorkers rallied outside the massive shelter last week to block the lease extension, a protest that drew more than 30 vehicles and was the latest in a series of demonstrations against the refugee camp.
Paul Martinka
Police said the former airfield had been a hotbed of unrest and violence in December, including incidents of domestic violence, gun seizures and a string of arrests on assault charges.
In January, migrants, including children, had to be temporarily evacuated in the middle of the night after dangerously strong winds raised concerns about tents collapsing and deadly flooding.
Despite local outrage, city officials say the temporary shelters are needed to house the new arrivals after more than 214,000 immigrants flowed into New York City in the past two years.
Providing housing and other services for migrant arrivals has already cost city taxpayers more than $5 billion.
