- The State Senator from the area actually shows up for protests.
- He mentions that this hotel is not near a subway or jobs.
- It is meant to keep people out of view.
- He calls for it to be shut down.
To recap Aaron's remarks:
- The DHS told the residents of at least one shelter on Jericho Turnpike that last week's protest would be violent and that they must leave.
- Those who did not want to leave were threatened with being sent back to the PATH center in the Bronx and having their kids taken away.
- You get preferential treatment in the shelters if you are an "MOS" (member of the service). Otherwise, you get treated like shit.
- Food is provided at the shelter that is spoiled and has made his family and others sick.
- DHS relies on scare tactics.
- You actually have to take them to court to get anywhere.
- DHS bounces people around from shelter to shelter, and keeps people in the system for years.
- The de Blasio administration's video was a lie because the shelter residents are more afraid of DHS than of protesters.
- The caseworker at the shelter got fired. A new one was hired, and there is only one on site for the entire shelter.
- The young man's family just got approved for permanent housing because DHS knew Aaron was talking with the protesters.
- Sam Chang built a 205-room hotel on a marsh in a remote area.
- After Sandy, a service provider named Bedco opened a men's shelter on the first two floors of the hotel.
- The men are forced to leave via side entrances and hotel guests are not told about the presence of the shelter.
- The men eat meals in their rooms instead of in a congregate area.
- Sex offenders are housed there without notification to the community.
- There is no proof that paid for services are actually provided to the men.
