From Albany to Westchester, New York State officials are hammering out the final details that would relocate1,200 migrant families outside of the Big Apple — in the most substantial move by the state to take ownership of the crisis, The Post has learned.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has faced fierce criticism for being notably absent as Mayor Adams and suburb areas sparred over housing migrants, is also planning to staff 13 shelter sites outside of the city with the National Guard, according to sources.
The news comes just one day after Adams issued yet another dire warning to President Biden – for the 36th time – predicting that the migrant crisis will eventually “decimate the big Apple if more federal funding doesn’t come fast.
The feds, so far, have contributed or promised a mere $142 million.
Biden has promised no extra money and pledged no additional assistance.
“There [are] planning conversations between the governor’s team and the mayor’s team about how to disperse migrants who are putting too much strain on the city’s existing capacity, and the state has agreed to a plan to relocate families throughout counties in New York state,” one City Hall source with knowledge of the talks said.
It was unclear where the 1,200 families were set to be moved in the coming week, but the source said the counties would have “certain infrastructure to support these families.”
The move is also connected to growing concerns over a surge in migrant children enrolling in public schools before the Sept. 7 start date.
The state Commissioner of Education Betty Rosa had discussed with Adams officials earlier this week which school districts were “better equipped than others to better support” the kids, according to a source.
“That was kind of the thrust of this,” the source said.
A list of soon-to-be state-run spots obtained by The Post says there will be three hotels manned by the National Guard in Albany County, four in Westchester County, three in Buffalo County and one in each Schenectady, Orange and Dutchess counties.
The National Guard started planning this week to split up its manpower between the city shelter sites and other spots throughout the state with no additional staffing, according to sources.
As of Friday, the guard remained on standby with no formal order coming down.
Hundreds of migrants have been relocated upstate over recent months — 600 in Albany County, 500 in Erie County and 200 in Schenectady County, according to Hochul— but were moved as part of deals struck by NYC officials and local pols.
More than 100,000 migrants have come to the city since last year and, currently, nearly 60,000 individuals are being housed in 198 shelter sites throughout the five boroughs.
Similar plans for more state control in the crisis have been floated over the last year but nothing has come of the talks, according to officials.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) previously tried to get New York officials on board with moving migrants to upstate cities that have seen population loss as a way to open up $9 billion-plus in federal funding to help revitalize run-down neighborhoods.
“The state of New York is used to dealing with the 57 counties. New York City is not, nor should they be expected to,” said Steve Acquario, the executive director of the New York State Association of Counties.
Acquario called on the federal government, as well as the state, to step up its efforts as capacity issues in NYC are forcing migrants to be bused elsewhere.
“The State is always prepared with a variety of contingency plans in case situational needs arise,” said Hochul spokesman Avi Small when asked about the proposal.
Additional reporting by Carl Campanile