Far Rockaway, Queens – On Friday, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Far Rockaway) issued a statement regarding the construction of a new homeless shelter on 1252 Brunswick Avenue in Far Rockaway, Queens. The statement is below:

“The Rockaway Peninsula has many needs, but a seventh homeless shelter is NOT one of them. I strongly oppose the proposed shelter at 1252 Brunswick Avenue in Far Rockaway. Let's be clear- this has nothing to do with the compassion of our community towards families in need of housing and additional services. The City is completely short sighted by placing families in a geographically and economically isolated community and should explore other options to better serve and assist these families. Placing families or individuals on a peninsula with already overburdened social services infrastructure, and insufficient employment and transportation options will create an additional obstacle. The City cannot continue to rely on the Rockaway Peninsula as they fail to come up with a comprehensive plan to adequately solve the homeless crisis in New York City at the root. I am working closely with community leaders and my colleagues in government to work towards alternate outcomes.”