Senator Ryan discloses talks with NYC on rehousing migrants stuck in hotels

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Sen. Sean Ryan disclosed Thursday that his team is working with New York City authorities to rehouse roughly 500 asylum seekers stuck in hotel rooms in Western New York.

Ryan said he is unaware of any plans by New York City officials to transport more asylum seekers to the region, in addition to those bussed here in the spring and summer of 2023 to live in hotels.

"Somehow in the last 24 hours, rumors have been flying around," Ryan said. "I don't know where it's coming from, because we are no closer to an agreement today than we were a month ago. But I just wanted to clarify the substance of what we are talking about - it would be a NYC-funded program that instead of paying hotels a very high rate, we could pay local landlords that money, get that money into our economy, and put people into stable housing."

Ryan said New York City is spending an astronomical amount of money to house asylum seekers in hotels, when it could save money if it worked with local nonprofit agencies to rehouse them in vacant apartments in Western New York.

Ryan said during a Zoom interview with reporters that hotels are not set up for long-term occupation by families, and "it makes no economic sense" for New York City to keep paying hotels, when it can be done cheaper by working with local organizations and landlords.

"We don't have a contract, we don't have an agreement, but we would like to get one to move people out into stable housing," Ryan said.