QUESTION
What is the actual hourly rate for security guards at migrant centers, and who is responsible for their hiring?
0:59:31
·
3 min
Council Member Paladino raises concerns about the reported hourly wages of security guards at migrant centers and queries about the companies providing these services.
- Council Member Paladino questions the accuracy of reported high hourly wages for security guards at migrant centers.
- Roman Gofman, from the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), clarifies that the contract with Garner Environmental does not include security services.
- Security services at migrant centers are reportedly contracted separately by other agencies.
- Concerns are raised regarding the quality of services provided by the hired security guards and the discrepancy in reported hourly wages.
- DCAS Commissioner Dawn M. Pinnock indicates a willingness to share these concerns with the appropriate agencies.
Vickie Paladino
0:59:31
I just want some really some clarity here.
0:59:37
Security guards.
0:59:39
That are currently taking care of our migrant centers.
0:59:44
Just to be clear, $119 an hour.
0:59:52
Is that so is that accurate?
0:59:54
They are getting paid a $119 an hour.
Roman Gofman
1:00:00
So from the
Vickie Paladino
1:00:01
Go ahead.
Roman Gofman
1:00:02
Garnet contract, I don't believe so.
1:00:04
I have to check the documentation.
1:00:06
Currently, the the 3 sites that Decast has POs and ping invoices of, the Floyd Bennett Greenmore and Randall's Island.
1:00:13
Gartner is not providing security guard services.
Vickie Paladino
1:00:16
Okay.
1:00:16
Who is Garner?
1:00:17
Let's be clear.
1:00:18
Make that very clear to me.
1:00:19
I'm new to this committee.
1:00:21
Who is Garner?
Roman Gofman
1:00:22
Garner Environmental is a prime contractor that is building the base camp sites at those three locations.
Vickie Paladino
1:00:27
Okay.
1:00:27
So they build the
Roman Gofman
1:00:28
the Yeah.
1:00:28
But but the services that they're providing, security guard services is stripped out of those 3 sites.
1:00:33
And I believe h and h is contracting directly with their own security guard firm to provide services
Vickie Paladino
1:00:38
have any of you ever seen the security guards at our migrant centers?
1:00:47
Have any of you had any interactions with them I have?
1:00:50
And I'm gonna tell you, they are poor at best.
1:00:54
They could barely speak read or anything.
1:00:58
I've had 2 in my district.
1:01:00
And if these people, while there's people out there starving, And these people are making this kind of money.
1:01:07
This is an absolute sin.
1:01:11
I have you down for 1:19 an hour, then I see a discrepancy of $79 an hour, which is also blasphemy.
1:01:19
And then I see here, I took a quick little note, $24 prevailing wages.
1:01:26
Explain to me, please.
1:01:28
1197924.
1:01:34
Because $24 seems about right.
1:01:37
Anybody who's getting paid at any of the migrant centers that I've been to, anything more than $24 an hour, The taxpayers of this city are getting robbed.
1:01:47
Big time.
1:01:48
And we could use this money elsewhere.
1:01:51
What security firms are we hiring?
1:01:53
That we are putting people into these centers, that when I go there and I visit often, can't even talk to me.
1:02:02
I don't understand.
1:02:04
When I deal with DHS or anything like that, Primo.
1:02:08
Excellent.
1:02:09
But when I go to these and we're dealing with outsourced security agencies Security guard agencies, they are disgrace.
1:02:18
And I'd like to know what they what kind of income they're making because I know people who are out of work that if they could do this for a living and make that kind of money, You'd have a line out the door.
1:02:30
So please explain to me, I I don't understand.
1:02:32
Who in hell is getting $119 an hour?
1:02:36
To sit in a migrant center for 12 hours and do nothing.
1:02:40
Absolutely nothing.
Lincoln Restler
1:02:43
So
Gale A. Brewer
1:02:45
I was
Dawn M. Pinnock
1:02:46
saying, as mentioned, as Roman testified that the security guard services are stripped out of the Gartner contract, where we pay those invoices, but we are happy to share your sentiments with those agencies that have carved out the security role.