Clarkstown Accuses Property Owner Of Running 'Migrant Flophouse'

Editor's Note: The address of the house is 295 New Hemptstead Road. The number was incorrect in the original version of this report.

CLARKSTOWN, NY — A Clarkstown property owner is accused of running a 'migrant flophouse' at 295 New Hempstead Road.

"We’ve never seen a situation this dire," Town Supervisor George Hoehmann said at a news conference Monday.

More than 30 immigrants, including children, were living in the 4-bedroom, 1,552 sq ft house, he said. Some had arrived as recently as two weeks ago, some were planning to move on shortly. More than 10 more were expected to arrive this week, he said.

"In essence, this was like a migrant flophouse," Hoehmann said.

The town is taking the property owner, Shloima Koppel of Monsey, to court, Hoehmann said.

Moreover, he said, "We believe this is organized. We believe there are people behind this from the state."

Hoehmann called the house "the canary in the mine," saying he suspected there were many more places like it in Rockland. Clarkstown found it by executing an "administrative search warrant" for town code violations, something he said other local communities do not do. He said the investigation began after police officers found two people digging for clothes in a drop-off bin near New City Bowl who said they had recently moved to the house.

Photos provided by the town showed rooms divided by sheets and shower curtains, mattresses on the floor side by side, extension cords everywhere. Hoehmann said children were living in the attic and the garage.

Hoehmann was accompanied by U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, Rockland County Executive Ed Day, state Sen. Bill Weber and Assemblymen Jim Foley.

Lawler called for a crackdown on illegal conversions "and on folks who think it is their right to break the law. We have town codes for a reason. We have fire codes for a reason. We have to protect the safety of our residents and our first responders."

He also said he hoped the investigation would quickly uncover "Who is behind moving migrants from New York City to Rockland County."

"This does not just happen by itself. Somebody's getting rich off it," Day said. He recalled the fire in which five people died in March at a house whose owner was cited subsequently for more than 400 building and safety code violations at his other properties including illegal conversions.

Day and Hoehmann said inspectors also will be looking at the other properties they believe the Monsey resident owns locally.

Hoehmann, Lawler and Day said they suspected NYC Mayor Eric Adams was involved in the movement of the migrants found in the house on New Hempstead Road. They said if it is found to be true then there should be consequences.

"I don’t have the evidence that Mayor Adams did this but I will say that he certainly tried to dump his problem into my district," Foley said.

"These types of conditions shouldn’t exist anywhere," Hoehmann concluded. "It’s coming to a place like Clarkstown because of failures at the city, state and federal level."

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