Leadership Needed on Migrant Crisis and Hudson River Nuclear Dump
By Dan Murphy
NY Governor Kathy Hochul has two urgent matters that require her attention, on behalf of the people of Westchester County: Provide assistance with the relocation of migrants from New York City to Westchester and leading the opposition to the dump of one million gallons of Nuclear Waste into the Hudson River by Holtec, owner of the now closed Indian Point Power Plant in Buchanan.
Included in the NYS Budget passed last month was $1 Billion to help New York City provide shelter for the 70,000 migrants that have arrived from the southern border. But NYC Mayor Eric Adams says that the cost for the migrants has already reached $5 Billion and is looking for more assistance from Hochul and from President Joe Biden.
Adams is looking to move some of the migrants to Westchester, and other Hudson Valley Counties. 100 migrant families are temporarily residing at the Ramada Inn in Yonkers.
On a recent appearance on NY Fox 5 news, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano asked for assistance from the Governor to help pay for the cost of education and health care for the migrant woman and young children at the Ramada Inn.
“Yonkers is ready to do their fair share. That’s why I am hopeful that the Governor steps in. There continues to be communication, but we are keeping all options open. We are 1/80th the size of New York City. These matters could be budget busters. They can walk into a Yonkers school and apply for education services for young children, and adult education services. We will have to make accommodation.”
Q-Are you surprised that you don’t hear anything from our President, or our Senators from New York -Schumer and Gillibrand?
A-It is very quiet out there-and it’s unfair to local governments. We will continue to press the Mayor of NYC and the Governor to give us the plan and give us the resources to make it work. I can’t imagine that the Governor of New York State gave a billion dollars to New York City so that they can ship people to other communities. I am certain that is not what that money is for, and we are going to make that case for the people of Yonkers.
One false rumor had migrants coming to Pleasantville to shelter at the Cottage school. JCCA, which operates the residential center for young people ages 7-16 with emotional and mental health challenges. “JCCA cares for young people, and our campus is not licensed to house families or single adults. We have no plans to house migrants relocated by Mayor Adams from New York City,” said JCCA spokeswoman Anna Gold.
The Town of Mount Pleasant, and Supervisor Carl Fulgenzi, declared a State of Emergency in anticipation that the migrants were coming to the Cottage School. “It is appropriate for the Town to issue a State of Emergency similar to the action taken by other local municipalities. The Town is without the necessary resources (both at the Town level and at a school level) to handle an influx of migrants to the Town. Further, the housing of migrants at the Pleasantville Cottage School is illegal as it would violate the Town’s zoning laws.”
The State of Emergency declared by Supervisor Fulgenzi, and by other elected officials in Rockland, Orange, and Dutchess Counties, may not be legal, and at some point, may have to be adjudicated in the courts. So far, the State of Emergencies declared by Rockland County Executive Ed Day has not been challenged in court. In Westchester, a determination by the County Attorney found that a state of emergency cannot be declared in response to a migrant crisis but can only be used for a Hurricane or other natural disaster.
The other matter that has another two months before coming to a boil is the planned dump of one million gallons of nuclear waster into the Hudson River by Holtec, the owner of the Indian Point Power Plant.
Protests against the planned dump continue in Westchester communities along the Hudson, and State Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg are moving forward with state legislation to prohibit the practice. But many environmental groups believe that if Governor Hochul would intercede, Holtec would be more willing to change their plans. Holtec has another planned Nuclear Waste Dump on Cape Cod.
