Manhattan judge appears skeptical of city arguments for moving homeless intake to the East Village without public review | amNewYork

A Manhattan judge questioned city attorneys about plans to move a homeless intake center to the East Village. The judge expressed skepticism toward city claims that the move could proceed without public review processes. Residents suing to block the center alleged the city bypassed required procedures. The judge declined to rule on whether the intake center may open, but issued a temporary order preventing the city from changing the 8 East 3rd St. site from a men’s homeless shelter into an intake center on the planned date. The city argued it had broad authority to rearrange shelter services and that the site would still serve homeless men, with the move needed because repairs are underway at the Bellevue shelter. The judge questioned whether increased security after the change indicated a significant change in use.

"Supreme Court Judge Sabrina Kaus declined to rule on May 28 regarding whether the intake center may open, she has already given a temporary victory to V.O.I.C.E, the unincorporated group of East Villagers opposing the plan over neighborhood safety concerns, and allegations the city rushed the plan without properly informing them. Earlier this month, Kaus issued a temporary order prohibiting the city from changing the 8 East 3rd St. site, which currently operates as a men's homeless shelter, into an intake center on its planned date of May 1."

"The city says it's necessary to move homeless intake services to the East Village and out of their current location at the dilapidated Bellevue shelter in midtown as it repairs safety issues in that building. It's well within its right to do that without triggering public review processes, the city argued, because city agencies have broad authority to rearrange shelter services and the site would still be used for the same general purpose to serve homeless men meaning there wouldn't be a significant change in use."

"Kaus appeared to see value in arguments from V.O.I.C.E., represented by ex-Mayor Eric Adams' former First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, that the switch from a shelter to an intake center could be subject to review processes, suggesting that the fact that the city plans to increase security at the site after changing it into an intake center seemed to demonstrate there would be a significant change that would trigger reviews. You're increasing security just for the heck of it, not because there's increased danger? Kaus asked."

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