New York City Mayor Eric Adams praised the work his administration has done regarding asylum seekers and the planned closing of the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center on Randall’s Island.
Around 2,250 adult asylum seekers currently staying at the Randall’s Island shelter will have to find different living accommodations by the end of February when the shelter officially closes, the mayor said during his weekly press conference.
“The federal government should have handled this problem. It should not have been placed on the back of cities,” said Adams. “Last year, we were talking about opening shelters and HERRCs. Now we're talking about closing HERRCs.”
About 210,000 asylum seekers have come through the city’s care since 2022. The number of asylum seekers staying in city shelters has decreased for 14 consecutive weeks and is down to around 60,000 people. At the city’s peak, roughly 69,000 people were in the city’s care.
The mayor also touted the completion of the first part of the flood barrier along the Lower East Side that is part of the East Side Coastal Resiliency project. The 2.4 mile barrier will protect more than 110,000 residents in lower Manhattan, as well as infrastructure and property from future storms and high tides as a result of climate change.
“We could ensure we have a safe shoreline in the city,” said Adams. “We are surrounded by water and we have to do everything possible to ensure that we protect New Yorkers to live near that water.”
Plans to develop a flood barrier have been nearly a decade in the making, originally set as a 10-mile long barrier running from W. 57th Street to E. 42nd Street. The project involves building raised parkland, berms, floodwalls and 18 flood gates to combat sea level rises and stronger coastal storms brought about by climate change.
The second section of the project, which includes a complete revamp of East River Park, is currently underway and is slated to finish by the end of 2026.
Meanwhile, the mayor declined to answer numerous questions about sympathetic remarks for Adams and his indictment from former President Donald Trump at a recent charity dinner.
That said, he did clarify his support for Kamala Harris and her presidential campaign.
“Whatever the campaign needs me to do, I'm willing to do,” said Adams on Harris. “I'm not campaigning here right now. I'm dealing with running this amazing City of New York."
When asked whether city residents had lost confidence in him as a mayor, Adams said some people will likely say, "okay, what's going on here?"
"But at the same time, people are saying, okay, this guy is moving the city forward," he added. "He is handling the issues that impact my community and my concern. People on the subway system are really pleased that we've had nine straight months of decrease in subways."
Meanwhile, the mayor said there was no timeframe on implementing a cellphone ban in public schools, but reiterated the administration was going forward with it.
"Phones are disruptive to the education practice. Not only does it encourage bullying, but it also distracts the children," he said.
He stressed the importance of getting the policy right in order to "leave it in place when we do it."
Adams also said he was looking forward to the ticker tape parade for the New York Liberty on Thursday. The team won the WNBA championship on Sunday at Barclays Center.
