STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The latest in a series of demonstrations was held outside a migrant shelter at the former St. John Villa Academy in Arrochar Tuesday night, as politicians and residents continued their calls for the city to shut the site down.
The rally was the latest of several held at the location over the past few weeks.
An online flyer promoting Tuesday night’s demonstration said “Not here!” and urged borough residents to “keep mobilizing in numbers.”
The crowd Tuesday night numbered in the hundreds, with many waving American flags and signs.
“This is our home,” said Borough President Vito Fossella. “If you’re not willing to fight for your home, what are you willing to fight for? You stick together, you stand with your neighbors.”
“That’s what tonight’s about,” the borough president said.
State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-South Shore) told the crowd he wants to see the shelter shuttered.
“This group is coming and saying ‘we want a free house and you pay for it,’’’ Lanza said. “I don’t want migrants coming here to Staten Island unlawfully. I want this place shut down.
“Mayor Eric Adams, Governor Hochul, Senator Schumer, President Biden, please come down here,’’ the senator said. “If you have a single thread of decency, you will shut it down.”
Area residents expressed concerns about the safety of living near migrants, whose criminal histories are unvetted.
“We don’t know where these people are coming from they won’t tell us,’’ one resident said. “For all we know they might be criminals or even sex offenders. They are getting more (from these shelters) than people right in this country.”
HOUSED AT ST. JOHN VILLA SITE
Two buses filled with about 50 migrants initially arrived at the shelter last month. About half of the migrants who arrived at the shelter requested to leave, citing safety concerns related to the ongoing protests, sources said.
The site has the capacity to house 350 people, according to City Hall…
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