Parents across Brooklyn's Canarsie neighborhood are demanding answers from New York City officials and Mayor Zohran Mamdani over plans to build a 200-bed men's homeless shelter just one block from a local middle school.
Parents, teachers and other residents protested Monday night against plans for a 200-bed men's homeless shelter on East 108th Street that is expected to open in 2028, one block from the Science and Medicine Middle School 366 on East 107th Street.
Among the protesters was New York City Council member Mercedes Narcisse, who represents the 46th District and criticized the city's Department of Social Services (DSS) in comments reported by News 12 Brooklyn.
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"You want to put it next to a school — a middle school for God's sake! These are our children! Shame!" Narcisse said.
Narcisse said DSS informed her about the proposed shelter last week but had not sought her input, even though she represents the neighborhood.
According to News 12 Brooklyn, the upcoming shelter is part of a broader citywide plan to open 12 new shelters, including three in Brooklyn.
Narcisse has requested a meeting with the DSS commissioner for Thursday to discuss residents' concerns. However, many protesters are calling for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to attend.
"I asked for the commissioner, but now, my community says the mayor," Narcisse said.
DSS confirmed plans to construct more shelters across the city and emphasized community engagement as part of the process.
"Notifying elected officials and community boards is a part of the public process around siting new shelters. Notification is the beginning of a process that includes opportunity for community engagement," DSS told Fox News Digital.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Science and Medicine Middle School 366, Narcisse's office and Mamdani's office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
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The protest follows other demonstrations across New York City over plans to open men's homeless shelters, with residents criticizing what they say is a lack of community input.
In July, the New York Post reported that the city moved 110 single homeless men into a former family shelter in Brooklyn. According to the report, the city's Department of Homeless Services did not conduct criminal background checks on the men before the relocation.
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