Q&A
Council member Brewer discusses cost and retention of migrants in New York City
2:03:29
ยท
133 sec
Council Member Gale A. Brewer raises concerns about the significant financial investment in supporting migrants and questions the policy of encouraging them to leave New York City. She seeks information on the per-family or per-individual cost and advocates for efforts to retain migrants.
- Brewer requests specific cost information per family or individual for supporting migrants
- OASO mentions that over 1,000 migrants have been hired through Workforce One centers
- Brewer suggests continuing support and shelter to retain migrants, given the city's investment in them
- Officials emphasize ongoing efforts to support migrants' integration into society, including job placement and work permit assistance
Gale A. Brewer
2:03:29
Last question.
2:03:29
I'm gonna ask IBO to do this.
2:03:31
But to me, we put all this money into these amazing migrants whom I have great respect for.
2:03:37
I mean, if you were in a worker training program and and you got, you know, x dollars were paid to have you get through the OSHA program, you wouldn't say goodbye.
2:03:47
Go to Minnesota.
2:03:48
Go to Texas.
2:03:49
We don't want you anymore.
2:03:50
Craziness that we're spending 1,000,000 of dollars, families and individuals, and saying goodbye.
2:03:55
So do we know exactly how much I know this whatever the mayor said on the phone today.
2:04:00
I don't know.
2:04:00
4,000,000,000, 6,000,000,000, whatever his numbers.
2:04:03
I have no idea what that means.
2:04:04
So my question is, per family, per individual, what is the general amount that the city of New York has invested?
2:04:12
Because if you look at this as a cost benefit, it's insane to tell them goodbye, in my opinion.
Manuel Castro
2:04:19
For recently arrived immigrants, Mali can talk about.
Molly Schaeffer
2:04:22
Well, so I we have to defer to OMB on the per diem.
Gale A. Brewer
2:04:26
That's not a good idea.
2:04:27
Go ahead.
Alexa Aviles
2:04:27
That's that's that's the that is the,
Molly Schaeffer
2:04:30
what we have to do in terms of the actual dollar amount so we can get back to you on that.
Gale A. Brewer
2:04:34
Okay.
2:04:34
Because I do believe if you look at this from standing back, looking at all the money we've invested, why in the world are we saying to people, we have jobs, etcetera.
2:04:44
So what is the city's plan to try to keep these families here?
2:04:48
Literally, not send them away.
Molly Schaeffer
2:04:51
So we've been working, as you know, across city agencies to give people as much supports as we can, including, I think, the last numbers I saw as SBS has verified that through the workforce one centers, we have been able to get hired more than a 1000 migrants who we've also helped to get their work permits.
2:05:11
So we continue to try to do everything we can to support people in their journey.
2:05:15
That doesn't necessarily mean staying in our shelter system.
2:05:18
That means everything that they need to integrate into society and figure out what makes the most sense in terms of getting apartments, in terms of figuring out where is best for them and their family.
Gale A. Brewer
2:05:28
Okay.
2:05:28
I know it's a slow, process.
2:05:30
I got it.
2:05:31
A 1,000 is good.
2:05:32
Many more need.
2:05:33
And I would suggest trying to keep some of this shelter and keeping this process going.
2:05:37
Look at the money we put into these people, and they're wonderful.
2:05:40
Thank you very much before I get more frustrated.