NYC Cannot Send More 'Homeless' To Orange Without Permission: Judge

GOSHEN, NY — Orange County was granted a preliminary injunction by a state Supreme Court judge that would prevent New York City from sending additional homeless individuals to the county without complying with state social services law and a further order from the court.

The decision came Wednesday from state Supreme Court Judge Sandra B. Sciortino.

Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus said the judge found that a denial of the county’s request for an injunction would give New York City unfettered ability to transport groups of individuals without any regard to legal and regulatory authority.

“This issue needs to be resolved at the state and federal levels,” Neuhaus said. “They must come up with a better plan.”

In her conclusion, Sciortino pointed out that denying the county’s preliminary injunction would, ironically, allow New York City to behave in the same manner for which it criticizes the governor of Texas, who has refused to provide any notice to New York City by having buses of asylum-seekers arrive at the Port Authority Bus Terminal unannounced and unscheduled.

Sciortino also held that NYC and the hotels in Orange County are prevented from transporting or receiving any more homeless individuals until the city complies with state law regarding the exportation of its homeless to the county and the court agrees that the city is in compliance.

The only exception is the 186 asylum-seekers already residing in two hotels in the county. If any of them leave one of the hotels, no one can be substituted for them.

Sciortino ruled that Orange County is entitled to make inspections at the hotels currently housing individuals sent from New York City, and the city must provide the county with identification for the 186 persons already being housed in the county within five days. The city must also promptly notify the county of any person who vacates the hotels.

Additionally, New York City — not Orange County — is responsible for all related expenses provided to the 186 asylum-seekers already in county hotels, including but not limited to medical, meals, laundry, security and transportation, until further orders from the court. The city had said it would only provide expenses for four months.

In May, Sciortino granted the county’s application for a temporary restraining order which stopped the city “for the time being” from sending asylum-seekers to Orange County.

The Crossroads Hotel and Ramada by Wyndham in the town of Newburgh are the two affected hotels.