FISHKILL – New York City has had no collaboration with Mid-Hudson counties as they have relocated asylum seekers to the region, county officials say.
Dutchess County Executive Bill O’Neil and Putnam Executive Kevin Byrne joined with Fishkill Town Supervisor Ozzy Albra and other local leaders to renounce the way the City of New York moved people to this area.
O’Neil said as time goes on, it will only exacerbate the problem of homelessness.
“If 86 of those people come out of the Red Roof Inn and say – pick a date, October, November – where are they going to go? They’re going to be on the street and then they are going to be in the homeless shelters, and when they’re in the homeless shelters, then I have the responsibility for them. And then my department of social services has to provide them services and I just compound the housing problem that already exists,” he said.
Byrne, whose county has had no asylum seekers placed there at this point, said Putnam and Dutchess are “committed to acting regionally with our neighbors.”
“Our compassion is unlimited, but our capacity is not,” said Albra.
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