"When I'm helping, I'm happy"
December 23, 2024 11:16 AM Subscribe
Eight Months Inside New York’s Migrant Shelters: Fear, Joy and Hope. (SLNYT - photoessay) "...many inside the shelters are filled with gratitude for a city that has given them shelter, a bedside table, a bare cot. And they are determined to get out, to become self-sufficient and to contribute to the country they escaped to.
What comes next, for them and the city, is uncertain...
The number of migrants entering New York, in fact, has been steadily declining for months, leading to the recent closure of some shelters.
But the largest city in the country is continuing to house some 55,000 migrants — the size of a small city. The story that began with the arrival of buses from Texas two years ago is still shaping New York, leading to disruption and anger and charity and grace.
And it continues to unfold each day, mostly out of sight, inside the lobby of a Midtown hotel."
The essay profiles the experience of several migrant families from Colombia, Senegal, Ecuador, Venezeula, Russia, China and Mauritania. All had fled from persecution and violence in their home countries.
The essay profiles the experience of several migrant families from Colombia, Senegal, Ecuador, Venezeula, Russia, China and Mauritania. All had fled from persecution and violence in their home countries.
I had no idea this was going on, I hope all the people are able to make their lives in the US as they hope and dream. Thanks so much for posting, storybored.
posted by goo at 4:36 PM on December 24, 2024
posted by goo at 4:36 PM on December 24, 2024
Such was the case in Brooklyn, where the city began paying at least $20 million a year to the owner of a remodeled office complex by the Brooklyn Navy Yard to house 3,000 migrants, one of the largest shelters in the city.
Quality-of-life complaints surged among neighbors near the shelter on Hall Street, with a string of violent incidents — including a shooting that police investigated as being gang-related — prompting demands to reduce its size.
I live a few blocks from this shelter, which houses only single men - I can see it from my window now - and I think this really overstates the issues. When it first opened, I did see a lot of African men walking the nearby streets, mostly in pairs or threes. I admit to being a little surprised at first but - I feel silly saying this - they seemed nice. Occasionally they would stop to help me if I was carrying something heavy or trying to navigate my granny cart over broken pavement. The area by the shelter was no worse than any where else. I help take care of some rain gardens across the street from the shelter and never saw conditions deteriorate any more than anywhere else during the pandemic. I think generally people in the neighborhood were trying to be understanding. A couple of times this summer I had to ride Citibike home from the subway late at night, docking it in a plaza across the street from my building, and it was generally full of African men sitting around at the tables, quietly talking, never bothering or catcalling me, which I'm sure you can appreciate is a concern when navigating groups of young men. I don't see them much any more, but I know the shelter is still open.
I want to say also, I grew up in and around NYC, always hearing how important immigrant culture is. I grew up hearing how important immigrant culture is to the fabric of the US (my own family is about 5th gen Irish on both sides). Many of my friends' parents were immigrants, a few in concentration camps as children, with horrific stories ("When I was your age I was hiding from the Nazis in the woods" type thing). Obviously only Native Americans can claim to not have any relatives who have not gone through the immigrant experience. I just don't understand the begrudging nonsense of the past 10 years.
posted by maggiemaggie at 2:01 PM on December 25, 2024 [4 favorites]
Quality-of-life complaints surged among neighbors near the shelter on Hall Street, with a string of violent incidents — including a shooting that police investigated as being gang-related — prompting demands to reduce its size.
I live a few blocks from this shelter, which houses only single men - I can see it from my window now - and I think this really overstates the issues. When it first opened, I did see a lot of African men walking the nearby streets, mostly in pairs or threes. I admit to being a little surprised at first but - I feel silly saying this - they seemed nice. Occasionally they would stop to help me if I was carrying something heavy or trying to navigate my granny cart over broken pavement. The area by the shelter was no worse than any where else. I help take care of some rain gardens across the street from the shelter and never saw conditions deteriorate any more than anywhere else during the pandemic. I think generally people in the neighborhood were trying to be understanding. A couple of times this summer I had to ride Citibike home from the subway late at night, docking it in a plaza across the street from my building, and it was generally full of African men sitting around at the tables, quietly talking, never bothering or catcalling me, which I'm sure you can appreciate is a concern when navigating groups of young men. I don't see them much any more, but I know the shelter is still open.
I want to say also, I grew up in and around NYC, always hearing how important immigrant culture is. I grew up hearing how important immigrant culture is to the fabric of the US (my own family is about 5th gen Irish on both sides). Many of my friends' parents were immigrants, a few in concentration camps as children, with horrific stories ("When I was your age I was hiding from the Nazis in the woods" type thing). Obviously only Native Americans can claim to not have any relatives who have not gone through the immigrant experience. I just don't understand the begrudging nonsense of the past 10 years.
posted by maggiemaggie at 2:01 PM on December 25, 2024 [4 favorites]
Canadian government report advises policymakers to plan for a future of downward social mobility (via r/collapse)
posted by jeffburdges at 12:38 AM on January 22
posted by jeffburdges at 12:38 AM on January 22
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posted by Rumple at 3:53 PM on December 23, 2024 [1 favorite]