Hotel chain forced to pay $515K for housing migrants in Yonkers: Irresponsible refusal
No vacancy.A national hotel chain has been forced to pay the city of Yonkers $515,000 for stashing dozens of migrants in a 103-room local Ramada — and leaving them there for nearly two years.The hefty settlement by Ramada by Wyndham ends a lawsuit filed by Yonkers officials claiming the extended migrant stay violated city zoning codes by turning the hotel into an illegal longterm shelter.“While the City of Yonkers was not initially notified by New York City of the asylum seekers’ arrival two years ago, we have since supported these families,” Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said in a release.“Their transition to alternate housing is the result of the hotel’s irresponsible refusal to adhere to Yonkers’ local zoning, housing and fire ordinances, which placed many of the hotel’s residents in danger.”Thousands of migrants flooding into New York City from the US border since 2022 were placed in shelters and hotels throughout the city, as well as upstate New York, including Yonkers, and on Long Island.But Yonkers officials said the 125 migrants placed in the Ramada by Wyndham on Tuckahoe Road in May 2023 by New York City were supposed to only be there temporarily — but stayed for 20 months.According to a report by lohud.com, the Ramada was renamed Plaza Esperanza while serving as a migrant shelter, with the number of asylum seekers staying there topping off at more than 200.The number began to shrink last year and bottomed out at about 75 last month, the outlet said.Still, the city sued the hotel chain — and finally got the settlement.
“As a result, we decided to take legal action against the hotel to pay for lost revenue and violations against our local laws,” Spano said.“Through a settlement with Ramada, the residents have now vacated without disruption.
“I am pleased that through our partnerships with local non-for-profits and social services, these families now can continue their journey in seeking asylum in our country,” the mayor said....