Dear Friend,

Since last spring, over 40,000 asylum seekers have come to New York City after being bussed from the southern border. As of this week, a fifth temporary Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center (HERRC) was opened inside the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal building in Red Hook. The placement of the HERRC in the small community of Red Hook is not without challenges. This location is in addition to smaller shelters throughout 26th Senate District that house other families who need assistance in New York. 

Once this was announced, my office and other local electeds got to work to ensure that the impact on the community is minimized to every extent possible, as well as working with the Red Hook and south Brooklyn community to welcome our new neighbors with dignity and respect. 

We’re fortunate to have incredible community-based organizations working tirelessly on the ground to help provide asylum seekers with food, clothing, shelter, and support to navigate the immense challenges that lay ahead.

The groups on the ground are in urgent need of donations and volunteers. 

Mixtexa is a community-based organization supporting Sunset Park's Latinx and Indigenous immigrant community. 

CHiPS is a Park Slope/Gowanus organization with the mission to eliminate food insecurity and homelessness in New York City.

As Emma Lazarus’ poem inscribed on Lady Liberty reminds us, our country welcomes with open arms ​​the “tired… poor… huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” New York has long been a beacon of light for those around the world, and it’s time for all levels of government to live our values of welcoming and helping immigrants.

- Andrew Gounardes

Andrew for New York

725 70th Street, Apt C1

Brooklyn, New York 11228

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