The Broome County Sheriff’s Office provided an update on their enforcement efforts following County Executive Jason Garnar’s State of Emergency declaration on May 11, enacted in response to New York City’s reported efforts to relocate large groups of individuals to Upstate counties. The Executive Order prohibits hotels and multiple dwellings from contracting with municipalities to house large groups of individuals due to the extensive shortage of housing and human services for current residents of Broome County.
Last week, Tioga County Legislature Chairwoman Martha Sauerbrey declared a State of Emergency regarding the possible arrival of migrants or asylum seekers due to the national immigration crisis and the plans involving the relocation of migrants from New York City to other counties outside of New York City. Sauerbrey said this has caused a public emergency as our county cannot sustain services or resources needed to support an influx of individuals. She has extended the original declaration, which is still in effect.
Following the announcement in Broome County, Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol deputies visited 34 hotels, delivering copies of the executive order and informing owners and staff of the law and the $2,000 penalty per-person, per-day levied at any hotel or business found in violation.
Deputies learned that a least two local hotels, the Quality Inn and Comfort Suites, both in Vestal, had been contacted by a New York City-based organization on Tuesday, May 9 – two days before the Broome order was issued. The organization sought to reserve blocks of at least 40 rooms for 6-12 months under a government rate for individuals the representative identified as migrants. The offers were declined by hotel management.
A third hotel was contacted seeking a similar arrangement but due to the vague nature of the call and lack of details, the source and goal of the call could not be confirmed.
Sheriff Fred Akshar said, “Our efforts to inform local hotel and business owners and the intelligence gathered confirms that New York City’s surreptitious efforts to relocate large groups of individuals to our community had begun before County Executive Garnar’s state of emergency declaration. The men and women of the Broome County Sheriff’s Office remain focused on the safety and security of the residents of Broome County, and we will continue making every effort to avoid and prevent unsafe situations or threats to public safety before they happen.”
