THE ASSEMBLY

STATE OF NEW YORK

ALBANY

Chairman
Committee on Codes
COMMITTEES
Rules
Ways & Means
Election Law

JOSEPH R. LENTOL
Assemblyman 50th District
Kings County
lentolj@assembly.state.ny.us

November 6, 2014

Commissioner Gilbert Taylor

New York City Department of Homeless Services
33 Beaver Street, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Dear Commissioner Taylor:
I am writing you today regarding the letter I received on November 5, 2014 outlining the
opening of a shelter for 91 homeless adult families at 58-66 Clay Street, Brooklyn, NY. I
cannot express strongly enough how disappointed I was to receive a letter about a new
shelter opening in my district that lacked the transparency I expected from this
administration. The letter provides no information as to why this location was chosen and
where other shelters are being opened.
I am happy to hear that the city is taking an aggressive approach to dealing with the
homelessness problem, especially for families. Children do not deserve to be raised on
the streets and should not have to worry if they are going to have a roof over their head
once they leave school. But the placement of this shelter at 58-66 Clay Street fills me
with great concerns.
Yet another city administration has unfairly chosen my district, which has been saturated
with shelters to house the homeless. For more than 40 years we have been our brothers
keeper, and we continue to accept that responsibility on the condition that we are not
being unfairly singled out to carry this burden. Other communities are not carrying this
same burden because Community Board 1 is unfairly carrying this load. I hereby request
a determination of whether or not Brooklyn, as well as Community Board 1 are in
accordance with the Fair Share criteria established in the 1989 City Charter.
Additionally, with regard to this specific location I would like some more information as
to the integrity of the building. Over the years this building has received countless New
York City Department of Buildings complaints. I have not been able to make a thorough
investigation of the building, but the buildings violations certainly call into question the
safety of this facility. I would like a complete account of what has been done to bring this

632 Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 (518) 455-4477 FAX (518) 455-4599
District Office: 619 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn, New York 11211 (718 383-7474 FAX (718) 383-1576

building up to code. There was also recently a fire at this building, and thus I would like
to ensure this facility is not a fire hazard to these families.
The safety of my constituents is of my utmost concern, and along the same lines I am
seriously concerned about the neighboring shelter at 146 Clay Street. This shelter, which
is on the same street, houses men some who ought not to be close to families because
they are currently under the monitoring of criminal justice agencies.
No decision on the future of this location as a New York City Department of Homeless
Services facility can be made without full transparency on the criteria used to choose this
site, as well as a safety assessment for the shelters families and the surrounding
community.
Sincerely,

Joseph R. Lentol

632 Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 (518) 455-4477 FAX (518) 455-4599
District Office: 619 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn, New York 11211 (718 383-7474 FAX (718) 383-1576