PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Carolyn Gleason, Community Member
5:06:58
·
129 sec
Carolyn Gleason, a community member, testified about her experiences with asylum-seeking families in her son's school and the challenges they faced due to the 60-day shelter rule. She highlighted the community's efforts to support these families and criticized the conditions at Floyd Bennett Field.
- Emphasized the need for investment in affordable housing and expanded access to housing vouchers
- Expressed concerns about the safety of Floyd Bennett Field, especially in light of potential mass deportations
- Pointed out that many asylum seekers are working and eager to find permanent housing, but face difficulties due to the housing crisis
Carolyn Gleason
5:06:58
Hello.
5:06:59
I'm Carolyn Gleason.
5:07:01
I'm proud to see my council member Rita Joseph there.
5:07:03
Thank you, council member Ayala and Avilis.
5:07:07
I'm a community member.
5:07:08
My son's school last, November received dozens of new families, and the infrastructure we had built of mutual aid and support immediately went into action to offer each family that arrived $500 in support, clothing, and access to services.
5:07:26
This was a parent led volunteer opportunity, like, operation.
5:07:31
Our school was underenrolled.
5:07:33
And because of the new arrivals of the families, we finally were fully enrolled.
5:07:39
We built deep relationships.
5:07:40
They were part of our community.
5:07:42
Yet 60 days in, as soon as that rule went into effect, we scrambled to find them suitcases.
5:07:48
They many of them went to the the reprocessing center only to be sent back to Floyd Bennett Field.
5:07:57
Floyd Bennett Field is no place for children.
5:08:00
I've long said that.
5:08:01
It is a flood zone.
5:08:03
It is dangerous.
5:08:03
And as Trump the Trump administration is threatening mass deportation, I agree with the previous speaker, that it's dangerous to keep Floyd Bennett Field open.
5:08:14
But the truth is is that Floyd Bennett Field residents, many of them are working.
5:08:18
Many of them are desperate to find permanent housing, and New York City's housing crisis is deep.
5:08:24
There is not even a room to rent.
5:08:26
And so I highly I request that there be a mass investment, not just for, our new arrivals, but for all New Yorkers to expand access to truly affordable housing, expand expand access to the the vouchers that allow the opportunity for people to find permanent homes.
5:08:44
People are working.
5:08:45
They can pay rent, but there is just not enough housing.
5:08:48
And so it is a false, idea that, that people are not doing enough to find housing.
5:08:56
And so I would that is like a whole other dimension, to this.
Gale A. Brewer
5:09:01
Thank you.
5:09:02
Your time expired.
UNKNOWN
5:09:02
I
Carolyn Gleason
5:09:02
do have worries, about what's ahead for those families.
5:09:06
Thank you.
