NYC Mayor Adams Reflects on Roosevelt Hotel Migrant Crisis Response

Honoring the Crisis Response Team

• 👏 Mayor Adams expressed deep gratitude for the team's humane service in addressing the migrant crisis, highlighting their dedication and the historical significance of their work.
• 🏅 He personally thanked individuals like Molly Safer, Deputy Mayor Williams Isim, and Chief of Staff Camille Joseph for their countless hours and crisis management.
• 🌍 The Mayor recounted his travels to Ecuador, Colombia, and the US border, witnessing firsthand the long journey migrants undertake to reach New York.

Addressing Criticisms and Demonstrating Humanity

• 🗣️ The administration faced criticism, with some labeling the mayor as "anti-immigrant," leading to invitations for national leaders to witness their efforts.
• 🤝 International and national immigrant leaders visited, observing how NYC handled over 50,000 children and 4,000 people daily, providing food, housing, and clothing with dignity.
• 🌃 Mayor Adams shared a personal anecdote of spending a night in the Roosevelt Hotel during the coldest day of the year to connect with residents.

Scale of the Humanitarian Effort

• 📊 The Roosevelt Hotel served as a symbol for managing the crisis, with an asylum seeker arrival center established in May 2023.
• 🚌 The city stopped buses at Port Authority, tripling shelter capacity in under two years, a feat that took 45 years to build previously.
• 💉 A vaccine program provided over 200,000 vaccinations, and schooling was arranged for 50,000 students.
• ⚖️ An asylum application help center was created, assisting over 111,000 people with work authorization, TPS, and asylum applications.

Successes and Future Outlook

• ✅ The city helped over 84% of individuals in their care take the next step in their journey.
• 📉 The Roosevelt Hotel location is now closed, along with 62 other migrant shelters, with average weekly arrivals dropping from a peak of 4,000 to 100 per week.
• 🌟 Director Molly Schaefer emphasized that while the city couldn't control arrivals, they controlled how they treated people with compassion.
• 👶 She shared a poignant statistic: over a thousand children were born while families stayed in their facilities, underscoring the human element of the response.

Legacy and Commitment

• 🏆 The team's efforts are framed as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to show up for both traditional and new New Yorkers with humanity and grace.
• 🌍 The speakers expressed pride in their work, acknowledging that while not perfect, it was done with the best care and effort.
• 🗣️ Commissioner Manny Castro shared a personal connection, having arrived in NYC as a child, and highlighted the importance of the city's welcoming efforts.
• ✍️ There is a commitment to ensure the full credit is given to those who responded to the crisis, setting the record straight against attempts to undermine their accomplishments.