A father, a resident of Inwood, wants to stop the construction of a controversial men’s shelter, since it is next to a school.
It also says it will disgrace an African burial ground and a Lenape ceremonial site.
“Basically, look, March 2025, this construction, begins what would be the threat to the community of our children,” says Raldy Montano.
Montano lives a few blocks from what will be a men’s shelter at 212th Street and Tenth Avenue in Inwood, right next to his sons’ school, and he is distraught.
“This is the construction as I was telling you, this is the school at the 212 stop as you see it, less than 40 or 50 steps away, a shelter in this community really has to find a way to stop it,” adds Montano.
PS 98 Elementary School serves about 367 children, from preschool to grade 5, located just steps from the building, and is adjacent to a historic African burial ground that would also have been used by the Lenape tribe for ceremonial purposes.
“About two and a half years ago, we were told that in the first instance it was going to be done as a tribute, since these areas here represent history for Africans, then history changed and today a shelter is being built for more than 300 or 400 people, men, which has basically given us a panic here in the community.”
Montano claims that the Department of Homeless Services disregarded the project’s environmental review and ignored the negative effects it would bring to the community, and decided to take legal action.
“Basically, the solution, as I told you at the beginning, is the total stoppage, that a park be built, for the benefit of the community, or in the worst case, that the plan be changed from a shleter to men, for women and children.
He is not the only one who opposes the project, councilor Carmen De La Rosa has also asked that the works that are expected to be completed by March 2025 be stopped.
“We know that people who unfortunately have no other option than to live in a shelter are there because they need housing, but I think that at this moment putting this shleter 100 steps from the school, without us being able to know who they are, and how they arrive, what needs these men have, it’s going to be a very difficult time for this community,” says the Manhattan councilwoman.
Neha Sharma, spokeswoman for the Department of Homeless Services says:
“We will honor the history of this place, which has flown under the radar for too long, by helping some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers get back on their feet, DSS-DHS makes sure to comply with all regulations and works closely with the community to serve to our neighbors in need.
This is not enough for Montano, who for personal reasons his children will not attend school this year, but he assures that he will continue to work for his community.
“We keep fighting, I’m still part of here…”.
2023-09-02 16:34:00
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