Single migrants booted from UWS hotel to make room for families

[Kamaji]

Single migrants booted from UWS hotel to make room for families

By Steven Vago, Craig McCarthy and Isabel Keane
Published Sep. 6, 2023

Single asylum seekers were booted from a controversial Upper West Side hotel Wednesday and sent to a pricey new facility on Randall’s Island to free up rooms for families — but many of the migrants were not happy about the move.

“In Randall’s Island we don’t have privacy, it’s all together,” said migrant Gonzalo Arcila, 52, a Colombia native who is planning to head to Denver instead of staying at the Randall’s facility, despite the place offering amenities such as laundry services and 24/7 access to snacks.

“I’m looking for new opportunities.”

Arcila was among those departing the Stratford Arms Hotel on West 70th Street for the Randall’s Island group facility and other locations, such as Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, as city officials attempt to keep asylum-seeking families together.

While he and some of the other rousted asylum seekers grumbled at the change, local residents hailed it, after complaining that groups of young single men were acting up near the hotel.

“Families are moving in, which is good news,” local restaurateur Joe Germanotta told The Post.

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Source:  https://nypost.com/2023/09/06/single-migrants-booted-from-stratford-arms-to-randalls-island/