When we last checked in with the Bedford Armory, nearby residents were trying to fight efforts by the Department of Homeless Services to move the city’s main intake center from the East 20′s in Manhattan to the historic armory in Crown Heights; more recently the city announced its intention to also increase the number of homeless beds at the nearby Sumner Avenue Armory from 200 to 1,000. Shortly after last August’s confrontational meeting on the topic between residents and DHS’s George Nashak, a spokesperson for DHS said that the agency would add an additional intake center in Manhattan to lighten the Armory’s load. In hearings later in the year, however, DHS retreated to the position that it was “considering” the Manhattan location. As far as we can figure out, DHS has yet to clarify the situation. In addition, when DHS announced it would be expanding the number of beds at the Bedford-Atlantic Armory, it tried to placate locals by saying it would close down the Peter Young Shelter across the street. Well, they did close Peter Young, but they turned it into a 24-hour detox center, which is always good for the neighborhood quality of life. To protest the treatment the neighborhood is receiving from the city and to announce that a law firm has been retained to fight the city, City Council Members James, Vann and de Blasio along with a number of other elected officials and neighborhood organizations are holding a press conference at City Hall on Sunday at 2 p.m. As we’ve said before, Crown Heights and Bed Stuy already shoulder more than their fair share of these kinds of social services and don’t deserve to be dumped on again.
Shelter Woes Spread From Crown Heights to Bed Stuy [Brownstoner]
Homeless Intake Center Plan Provokes Broad Opposition [Brownstoner]
Pols Gather to Pan Crown Heights Homeless Plan [Brownstoner]
Crown Heights Rally: Don’t Dump On Us! [Brownstoner]