By Forum Staff
A third attempt by the City of New York to derail the case against the placement of migrant housing at Floyd Bennett Field has fallen flat, according to Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park).
The Honorable Justice Joseph J. Maltese rejected the city’s latest efforts in Brooklyn’s 2nd Division of the NYS Supreme Court, Appellate Division on October 25, writing that he has “declined to entertain” the city’s motion, as it was “not cognizable” under current legal code.
“This is the third failed attempt by the administration to prevent us from having our day in court,” Councilwoman Joann Ariola said. “The city’s lawyers are well aware that their case has no legal merit, which is why they have continuously sought to block us and avoid a hearing.”
“The defendants here know that they are wrong on the law,” said plaintiffs’ attorney John Ciampoli. “They don’t want the judge to make a ruling on this case. They will do anything to stop that from happening.”
Photo Courtesy of Councilwoman Ariola
According to the administration’s plan, privacy dividers with locks will be installed to provide approximately 500 families with children a place to stay.
“As I have said from the beginning, justice will prevail,” Assemblywoman Jaime Williams said. “Floyd Bennett Field is not an appropriate venue for a migrant shelter, and on November 3rd we will demonstrate this to the court.”
Last week, a federal judge ruled that Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul failed to show that there was a federal question in the complaints that the plaintiffs.
The City recently announced that Floyd Bennett Field will open in the coming weeks to serve families with children seeking asylum in a semi-congregate setting. Privacy dividers with locks will be installed to provide approximately 500 families—instead of single men, which the City had previously announced—with children a place to stay.
