Queens residents rally against plans for asylum seeker relief center

SAY THAT LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES ARE A TOP CAUSE OF FATAL FIRES IN NEW YORK. >>> A HEATED RALLY IN QUEENS AGAINST A RELIEF CENTER FOR ASYLUM-SEEKERS. TENT S WILL BE GOING UP IN A PARKING LOT. LISA ROSLYN REPORTS ON CONCERNS FROM NEIGHBORS. >> Reporter: RESIDENTS FROM THE QUEENS VILLAGE AREA ARE ASKING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO RECONSIDER PLACING ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE CREEKMORE PSYCHIATRIC CENTER. THEY SAY AMONG THE CONCERNS , THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN WHO PLAY IN FIELDS NEARBY . >> WE DON'T KNOW WHO IS COMING IN HERE . >> WE ALREADY HAVE TWO HOTELS. >> Reporter: CREEDMOOR IS ON STATE LAND AND THE CITY WILL CONSTRUCT THE RELIEF CENTER AND THE STATE WILL REIMBURSE FOR STAFF AND MAINTENANCE. >> THE MAYOR HAS PASSED THIS OUT TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF 24 HOUR SECURITY WILL PROVIDE. >> Reporter: RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED FOR THE ASYLUM-SEEKERS AS WELL BECAUSE THIS AREA IS A TRANSIT DESERT AND ACCESSED OPPORTUNITIES ARE VERY SLIM. >> IF YOU DON'T DRIVE, YOU NEED TO TAKE THE BUS. >> IF THEY WANT TO APPLY FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IT IS GOING TO BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. >> Reporter: COUNCILMEMBERS WERE NOTIFIED OF THE PLANS VIA TEXT MESSAGE ON TUESDAY. >> I SAID THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT LOCATION, I AM TELLING YOU. THEY TEXTED US YESTERDAY AND SAID OKAY, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD . >> THEY HAVE TO DO BETTER AND ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY . >> THESE PEOPLE NEED BETTER WELFARE IN OUR COMMUNITY. >> Reporter: A REP FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TOLD OFFICIALS ALL OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE . THE COUNCILWOMAN SAYS SHE HAS REQUESTED A MEETING AND CONSTRUCTION STARTS FRIDAY . THE CENTER COULD BE UP AND RUNNING IN TWO WEEKS. >> ALSO IN QUEENS, A FORMER COLLEGE SCHOOL IS ANOTHER CENTER

Channel: CBS New York

Views: 176,642

Keywords: CBS2 News At 5, Queens

Id: bDcopoPbJ5A

Length: 2min 9sec (129 seconds)

Published: Thu Jul 27 2023