From the Desk of Senator Jack M. Martins: We Are Not Going To Mop Up Their Mess While They Are Still Making It

We Are Not Going To Mop Up Their Mess While They Are Still Making It

I’ve served as State Senator for a few years and just when I think nothing could shock me anymore, along comes another BAD idea.

This doozy is courtesy of Governor Hochul and NYC Mayor, Eric Adams, who in a moment of great virtue signaling mutually decided that both the state and city should be “sanctuary” destinations for migrants.

You can guess what happens next. They were overwhelmed by the more than 100,000 migrants who arrived on our doorstep demanding help.  But hold on, it gets better!

The Governor declares a “state of emergency,” marshals over two billion dollars in taxpayer funds for the effort, and even mobilizes the National Guard. By the very definition of “emergency,” she understands that the well-being of our residents is at risk. Yet, despite all this, despite news reports from our overwhelmed neighborhoods, despite thousands of hard-working New Yorkers raising their voices in protest, THEY DO NOTHING. They refuse the most obvious course of action: to rescind our sanctuary status and tell President Biden to secure our border.

Imagine you came home and found a busted pipe flooding your kitchen. You could of course call a plumber, get buckets and start mopping up, but the very first thing you SHOULD do is shut the darn valve off to stop the flow.  That’s common sense. 

Yet the Governor and Mayor don’t seem any closer to that realization. What’s worse, they’re hoping to transfer that burden to Long Island and have us mop up the mess! They want struggling taxpayers to fund it, residents to absorb tent cities with thousands of unvetted migrants, and our underfunded schools to absorb the overflow under threat of prosecution. All this while ignoring the needs of our most vulnerable New Yorkers who still live on the streets. The billions spent and billions more come at the expense of every single New Yorker who must look elsewhere for the help they need.

My friends, we won’t have it. Yesterday, my fellow lawmakers and I held a press conference and sent Hochul a letter, demanding – pleading – hoping – for common sense.  

Keep your fingers crossed. In any case, know that we’re on your side and we’re fighting this every step of the way.