Oct. 17, 2016 By Hannah Wulkan
The Department of Homeless Services has plans to partially convert an East Elmhurst hotel in to a shelter for homeless people, according to a statement from several local politicians.
Congressman Joseph Crowley, State Senator Jose Peralta and Assemblyman Francisco Moya released a joint statement today condemning the DHS plan to partially convert the Courtyard by Marriott hotel at 90-10 Ditmars Boulevard to house single homeless men.
According to the statement, DHS plans to put up to 60 homeless men in to the hotel, and did not inform elected officials or community members of the plan.
This plan comes on the heels of several similar incidents involving DHS converting hotels to shelters with no notice to the community.
These incidents include conversions of the Westway Motel in Astoria/East Elmhurst early last year, the Quality Inn on Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside/Woodside in August, and most recently, the highly controversial Holiday Inn Express in Maspeth.
The Maspeth shelter plan resulted in protests outside of the Brooklyn home of the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services Steven Banks, and the plan was recently dropped.
“Again, these plans were implemented without any community involvement. While our communities remain very sympathetic to the ongoing issue of homelessness in New York, it is true that we have already carried our fair share of this problem by hosting no less than five shelters in our neighborhoods,” the statement read.
“We will fiercely continue in our opposition to additional shelter facilities within the area. Simply put, DHS must work to solve the pervasive issues of homelessness through ongoing dialogue with affected communities and their elected officials. Continued unilateral action by DHS fails to provide any measure of a meaningful framework for a long-term solution to these problems,” the three politicians concluded.
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19 Comments
ALL Democrats agree with inept, corrupt and marxist Mayor Bill DeBlasio 99% of the time on just about everything. Only now that they witnessed the outrage of Maspeth residents, they are beginning to say that are against the Homeless Hotel Shelter Crisis. Don’t believe them. They are just posturing to to get votes. We need to get rid of Deblasio and then elect Republicans to represent us at the City Council and NYS Senate and Assembly. The Democrat’s monopolistic and corrupt grip on NYC politics leads to the total mess we have now regarding this issue and many others.
LL Democrats agree with inept, corrupt and marxist Mayor Bill DeBlasio 99% of the time on just about everything. Only now that they witnessed the outrage of Maspeth residents, they are beginning to say that are against the Homeless Hotel Shelter Crisis. Don’t believe them. They are just posturing to to get votes. We need to get rid of Deblasio and then elect Republicans to represent us at the City Council and NYS Senate and Assembly. The Democrat’s monopolistic and corrupt grip on NYC politics leads to the total mess we have now regarding this issue and many others.
I grew up in E. Elmhurst on 101 street, (same block as Eric Holder and a couple blocks from the former Queens borough president, Helen Marshall) for 23yrs.
I worked w/homeless men, medically frail women and scatter site homeless families for several years. This new Dept. of Homeless Services idea of yet another Queens {E.Elmhurst} shelter is UNACCEPTABLE.
With a 60 man utilization of this over 200 room hotel…WHAT will happen with the rest of the rooms? Is the Marriot really going to go for this? Or, is this DHS suggestion REALLY intended to utilize ALL the rooms.
I vividly recall this location (down the block from my house), prior to this hotel being built, the area was ALL trees. The traffic w/The Sheraton and The Marriot on Ditmas Blvd caused more than enough activity…A homeless shelter is activity NOT needed!
This is a complete disrespect to the homeowners of East Elmhurst and our property taxes are continuing to go up! No less than 5 shelters – they are just abusing us now! We will NOT let this happen! PLEASE SHOW UP TO THE NEXT COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING THIS THURSDAY OCT. 20TH @ 7:45PM – IS 227 – LOUIS ARMSTRONG SCHOOL -32-02 JUNCTION BLVD
ONE TERM MAYOR EVERYONE. IN THREE YEARS HE HAS DESTROYED OUR AREA OF QUEENS. VOTE DIBLASIO OUT OF OFFICE IN 2017!
Something does not add up….why would a Marriott house “60” homeless? The Hotel has 289 rooms and is one of the nicest in the area. As Eve said, they usually charge the most in the area as well. There are no sources, just a “statement”? Sorry, we need more info….I realize this happens but no one would pay those prices in a partial Homeless Shelter. Not to mention it would ruin the brand.
Does not add up…….
ALL THE COMMUNITIES WHO ARE AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE SHOULD
GO TO GRACIE MANSION ON A NOVEMBER EVENING AND LET THE MAYOR KNOW HOW WE FEEL.BUT FIRST,WE NEED TO VOTE OUT ALL
DEMOCRATS WHO DO NOT SUPPORT US.VOTE THEM OUT OF OFFICE.
TO SEND A SIGNAL THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE.
There is a protest scheduled at City Hall on Friday 10/21 at 10:00 am. Many communities coming together. Contact the Juniper Park Civic Association for more information.
Simply Enough is enough. It is some other neighborhoods Turn. One that base as than 4 shelters.
We need to demonstrate in front of the homes of the owners of these facilities, just like we did in the 80’s and the good people of Maspeth just did to Mr. Patel the owner of the Holiday Inn in Maspeth. The owners of these dumps don’t like their neighbors to know how dirty they are. Oh don’t forget that disrespectful creep who heads the DHS picket that pigs home as well.
I’m really ticked off. Less than three months ago, that particular hotel was charging the highest rates of the four largest hotels in the area. I couldn’t even make reservations there. Now it just goes to the homeless. I’m past insulted. What does someone get who has been hardworking all their life and who never asked for a handout? Disrespect. Well that’s a fine howdy do and thank you.
This is a clear and blatant disregard for the residents of East Elmhurst. This is certainly taxation without representation. The homeowners pay real estate and a host of other taxes from federal to state to city to local community taxes. When someone takes money for nothing, there is a word for that. Would that be usery, misappropriation of funds or just plain thievery? Help us out here.
That means 4 shelters within a 10 block stretch of 23 ave .kings inn 87th Street now the Marriott on 90 th street , the clarion on 94th street and the laguardia family shelter on 94th street across from the marriot. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!
Turn Gracie mansion into a homeless shelterbill
This is ridiculous, i think east elmhurst has had enough shelters open up in our community. DHS must not be aware that we have three shelters about 3-5 blocks from one another and 1 safe house for women who have been in abusive relationships. What are suppose to tell our children who see the changes our neighborhood is going through? We have so many schools in close proximity to these shelters that have housed sex offenders.
I’m Unaware of a safe house in east elmhurst. Can you point me to where this is located?
In East Elmhurst in last two months has been increased the car thief…Mosly they hit commercial vans…it start few months after open homeless shelter in heart of east Elmhurst in Astoria BLVD.
Deblasio and all involved with creating these welfare hotels should be charged with misappropriation of public funds. It cost close to $4,000.00 a month to house people at these facilities. Welfare hotels were a proven failed policy and scam back in the 80’s and these crooked politicians have brought the scam back. If you can’t afford to live here you move to a place you can afford just like many of our good hard working friends and relatives have done that’s capitalism.
you really are an annoying little twit. go back to your white america and drink mountain dew and keep to yourself. your moaning is just like a whining little imbecile who is about as astute as a moron.