Rochester
Mayor Lovely Warren released a new statement today on the possibility of
housing undocumented children at Blossom South Nursing and Rehabilitation
Center on Monroe Avenue.
The
owner of Blossom South, Israel Segal, is interested in turning the vacant
property over to the federal government to house undocumented children who are
facing deportation. Many people are calling the flow of thousands of immigrant
children across the US-Mexico border, often unaccompanied by an adult, a
humanitarian crisis.
Warren’s
statement:
Mayor Lovely Warren met with her senior staffMondayto
discuss an inquiry made to house up to 172 immigrant children at the former
Blossom South Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Warren
and other city officials are in the process of gathering more information about
the inquiry before any decisions are made. The city will do its due diligence
to answer all questions, particularly pertaining to the children’s health and
safety if they are housed here in Rochester. We will also look at what, if any,
overall impacts this could have on the City of Rochester.
“As
a part of our fact-finding process we will engage in meaningful discussions
with City Council, neighborhood groups, community service providers and
faith-based organizations prior to drafting any formal proposal,” said
Mayor Warren.
She
added: “As a community we have a moral obligation to show compassion to
these young people. If the decision is made to open up our community, it is
imperative we ensure that the environment is a safe one for them, where they
can receive not only the legal support, but the spiritual and emotional support
that they will need in order to make the transition back home or to another
place of safety.”
Blossom South is 68,000 square feet and has 86 bedrooms.
There are also kitchens, dayrooms, solariums, dining rooms, offices, and
storage rooms.
This article appears in Jul 16-22, 2014.
As long as the County of Monroe and the City of Rochester equally share any costs above and beyond what the Federal Gov’t does not cover, if any, I wholly support the efforts of The City of Rochester to further study and determine the entire feasibility of such an effort to protect children, women and teenagers, fleeing illegally from crime, oppression by a Govt’, or Drug Cartel Violence, that may be housed in the near future, on a temporary basis only, in our City and County of Monroe.
Craig R. Moffitt
“As long as the County of Monroe and the City of Rochester equally share any costs above and beyond what the Federal Gov’t does not cover..”
No way. Rochester and Monroe County should foot the bill for ANY costs for this. It is a federal government-caused crisis that is theirs to fund and fix. It is not NY States’ problem either. These children all need to be sent home ASAP.
It is a refugee crisis not necessarily an immigration crisis in my opinion.
Craig R Moffitt
The type of “crisis” is irrelevant. US government is in a better position financially and logistically to deal with crises, no matter what they are. They shouldn’t shove it down to the state or local governments to deal with it. Maybe the UN come here and address this “refugee crisis”?
This is wonderful! Thank you Mayor Warren and Mr. Segal for you idea! These children need our help. It is not safe for them to return home now. I support opening our community to as many of these kids as we can. We have a lot of resources to share and many kind people to help. Rochester is a great place for these kids to stay while their future is in limbo.