Large crowds of protesters marched through Sheepshead Bay’s often quiet streets to voice their opposition to proposals for a family homeless shelter. Residents said the city had used deception to approve the project.
While protesters held placards that read, “Affordable housing not shelters” and “Keep our kids safe!” a long convoy of cars slithered through almost 20 blocks of the Brooklyn neighborhood on Sunday. No shelters close to schools or playgrounds!
Plans for a 169-family homeless shelter at 2134 Coyle St., a location that was first authorized as an affordable housing property in 2022, are at the heart of the problem. However, without consulting the locals, city officials approved plans for the shelter in 2023 when a developer withdrew.
Community activist and mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, along with other local candidates, joined the marchers as they began their walk at the shelter location.
“As you can see the community is outraged. The mayor refuses to come and talk to the community. None of the other mayoral candidates will come here and take a stand,” Sliwa stated.
“So I’m leading a demonstration against this shuffle. We want affordable housing. That’s what this community was told and they agreed to it, and then the last minute switch, they want affordable housing, no shelters,” he continud.
As the caravan passed, locals and shopkeepers lined the streets, and the throng clogged and obstructed the thoroughfares.
Numerous protesters described the city’s approach as flawed and even dangerous for maintaining peace in the area.
“This is a great community. There is like older people who settle here. It’s a beautiful community.” Fruma Feldman, 21, who lives in Sheepshead Bay, remarked, “There’s parks and everything.”
“I do believe homeless people should have a place to go, but I was talking to my dad earlier and he told me that he has homeless friends that are scared to be in these shelters because of how dangerous the other people that are there are, it’s not even safe for a lot of homeless people to be there. So, with that being said, I don’t think it should be here.”
Referring to multiple accounts of increasing crime and panhandling following the opening of a vast tent-city to accommodate migrants nearby in 2024, Fruma continued, “When the illegal migrants moved in at Floyd Bennett Field, my dad’s car got robbed, and the stores nearby were like closing everything.” Armed robberies have occurred, and this neighborhood doesn’t need any more of them. The people simply found it frightening.
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While warning that building on the shelter may start at any time, Dimple Willabus, a candidate for the local District 46 council, urged local authorities to pay attention to the opinions of the people.
In reference to Council member Mercedes Narcisse, the 46-year-old stated, “This is really to pressure the elected official, and to be very specific, the city councilmember so that she acts.No, don’t come out and speak to the people, don’t do PR stunts. Clean this up. This is a can of spilled milk and it is just drying up the sidewalk, and she’s trying to scoop it up.”
The march on Sunday was only the most recent in a series of demonstrations against the plans for the shelter.
Outside the shelter, dozens of residents had been camped out in tents around the clock for almost a month. Narcisse expressed sympathy for the cause during a visit to the encampment earlier in April.
