Today, Dutchess County Supreme Court Judge Maria Rosa granted Dutchess County’s request for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), barring New York City Mayor’s Office and Department of Homeless Services from transporting any additional homeless adults or minor individuals in temporary shelter(s) in New York City to Dutchess County, including to hotels within the County of Dutchess, including but not limited to, Red Roof Inn at 2349 South Road and the Holiday Inn at 2170 South Road, both in Poughkeepsie. The order is effective immediately.
Dutchess County maintains the right to make statutory safety inspections at the Red Roof Inn and the Holiday Inn in Poughkeepsie. The City of New York has been ordered to continue to provide, and incur all reasonable expenses for service provided to any individuals who were transported to Dutchess County prior to today’s order. New York City is required to pay for all reasonable expenses relating to each person’s stay.
The order also requires New York City to provide identification information to Dutchess County for any and all individuals currently in New York City’s care who are housed at the Red Roof Inn for legitimate purposes, including ensuring all of their needs are being met.
This order is in effect until June 20th as the County pursues a permanent order.
Current status of individuals already relocated to Dutchess County:
There are 86 males currently being housed at the Red Roof Inn in the Town of Poughkeepsie. 66 arrived on Sunday, including 40 who had been in Sullivan County, and an additional 20 individuals were transported there Monday by New York City. There are no individuals being housed by New York City at the Holiday Inn in Poughkeepsie, though the two hotels are under the same ownership.
All of these individuals are the responsibility of New York City, this responsibility includes covering all related costs including lodging, meals and wrap-around services such as security.
All of these individuals are legal asylum seekers. According to the New York State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, they have been vetted, fingerprinted and identified by the Federal Government, including background checks. This information has not yet been provided to Dutchess County, but today’s TRO requires New York City to provide identification information to the County.
The Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department and the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office have enhanced patrols in the area of the Red Roof Inn to ensure the safety of all within the community. Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health continues to conduct inspections at the hotel for sanitary code enforcement.
We must be realistic and recognize these individuals will be in the County for an indefinite period of time and may need to be assimilated into our community. In that event, Dutchess County wants to ensure that process is as safe and effective as possible for all.
Dutchess County is requesting partnership with New York City for integrated case management to the understand the needs, skills and next steps for these individuals. Should these individuals remain our community, it will be critical they have the necessary skill building, including language and job readiness. We discussed today with local mayors and supervisors the possibility of identifying opportunities for volunteering and other skill development. Should New York City be willing to collaborate with Dutchess County on these efforts, it would be expected that the New York State dollars being distributed for the care of asylum seekers would be provided to Dutchess County to cover all costs for these efforts.
