Judge has yet to make a decision about whether St. John Villa shelter will stay open or shutter

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A Staten Island Supreme Court judge said Thursday that he would make a decision in due time about what’s next for the migrant shelter at the former St. John Villa Academy in Arrochar.

Judge Wayne Ozzi said the decision about whether to close the shelter would be his top priority after hearing arguments from the Staten Islanders opposed to the site, and the city officials trying to keep it open.

“This matter deserves a very close look and I’m going to come out with a determination in writing as soon as I can,” Ozzi said. “I’m going to give it my number one priority.”

Since then, the site has operated as one of the city’s 208 shelters set up in response to the ongoing migrant crisis that has seen nearly 110,000 people make their way to the five boroughs since spring of 2022, about 60,000 of whom remain in the city’s care.

Earlier Thursday, that group along with City Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore), State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn), and representatives from the offices of Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) and City Councilman David Carr (R-Mid-Island), held a press conference outside the courthouse speaking out against the shelter.

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