A Brooklyn City Council hearing descended into chaos on Monday as tensions flared over a migrant shelter that opened last summer. The uproar was sparked by councilmember Crystal Hudson’s remarks about a recent stabbing near the shelter.
“There was an incident earlier today — it’s not the first incident, I hope it will be the last — there was a stabbing that was at the park,” Hudson stated.
Her comments provoked an immediate and intense reaction from attendees, who accused her of sidestepping the core issue.
“You are avoiding this issue,” one man shouted. “Is there a universe where the city can safely house 3,200 single men together?”
“It can’t!” others in the room yelled back, echoing sentiments of frustration and fear.
“It is unsafe! It is unsafe!” multiple voices added, amplifying the outcry.
Hudson tried to calm the crowd, suggesting their anger should be directed at City Hall and New York City Mayor Eric Adams, whom she blamed for not providing adequate support.
“We have literally said exactly what you just said … I understand the frustration. I get it … But my office has done everything we can,” she asserted.
In a subsequent statement to the New York Post, Hudson’s spokesperson reinforced her position, criticizing the mayor’s office for its lack of action.
“We’ve seen people come together to routinely provide material support for migrants. However, individual generosity doesn’t preclude the government’s need to steer collective action, and so far the mayor’s office has failed in that regard,” the spokesperson said.
“There is a need for the city to provide additional resources to address the emerging challenges facing new and longtime residents alike as well as sharing a vision for a long-term strategy that we can all work toward across the five boroughs,” he added.
Mayor Adams has also voiced his frustration with the Biden administration for not offering substantial help. Last March, Adams lamented that President Biden had left him to deal with the migrant crisis alone. After a trip to Washington, D.C., to plead for more federal assistance, Adams acknowledged the widespread impact of the crisis.
“Our residents are weary, our residents are angry, our residents are seeing the impact of the migrant and asylum seeker issue, how it is taking away from the resources that should go to the day-to-day services of running the city,” Adams said.
This turmoil follows a stabbing incident outside the shelter the previous week, which heightened tensions. A 22-year-old migrant was stabbed after a dispute over a scooter.
Cristian Concepcion, 25, allegedly attacked the victim after seeing him sitting on his moped. The victim was hospitalized in serious condition but survived. Concepcion, identified as a criminal alien from Venezuela, was arrested and charged with assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and menacing.
