‘He wants to screw us’

New York City has given the green light to establish an all-male homeless shelter in the residential South Shore of Staten Island, a decision that locals argue reflects Mayor Mamdani’s disregard for this conservative borough, as reported by The Post.

Residents express concerns that the 160-bed facility planned for the corner of Arthur Kill and Richmond Valley Road in Charleston will lead to increased crime, drug activity, and loitering, viewing it as another slight from the socialist mayor.

“A hundred percent he wants to screw us because we vote conservative,” remarked Bruce Daniele, owner of Intoxx Fitness, located across from the proposed shelter site.

The South Shore area notably supported Andrew Cuomo in the 2025 mayoral election.

The city’s Department of Homeless Services indicated that the shelter will accommodate both employed and unemployed single men and will offer assistance in job placement and life stabilization.

The plans were confirmed by the city on March 5, coinciding with the announcement of the closure of the Bellevue men’s shelter in Manhattan.

Republican Councilman Frank Morano criticized the decision, stating, “If the goal is to help people stabilize their lives and find employment, placing a large shelter in what’s essentially a transit desert makes no sense.”

South Shore is characterized by its middle-class, residential nature, lacking in social services and efficient transit. The nearest train station is a 20-minute walk, and bus commutes to Manhattan can take up to 90 minutes.

A petition opposing the shelter has garnered hundreds of signatures, reflecting widespread local dissent.

Community leaders express frustration over the lack of information about the facility, set to be managed by nonprofit Community Housing Innovations (CHI) and slated to open in mid-2027.

Officials are yet to see any designs for the four-story building or understand the cost implications for taxpayers.

Borough President Vito Fossella voiced concern, “I’m hoping that politics are not at play here. But the snow storm and not getting any 2-K seats – getting this homeless shelter . . . it’s three strikes in a row.”

This comment referenced complaints regarding the city’s delayed response to a late-February blizzard and a 2-K pilot program excluding Staten Island from receiving new classrooms.

Morano added, “It seems like we’re forgotten for all the good stuff, but we’re remembered for the bad stuff.”

The property was acquired in 2023 by Richmond Valley LLC, linked to the Sandhu Group, which previously provided hotel accommodations for migrants.

City filings describe the building as a “hotel and community center,” not explicitly a homeless shelter.

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis called it a “bait and switch,” explaining that the site was initially planned as a transient hotel, which also faced local opposition, before rumors of a shelter surfaced.

Fossella recalled assurances from former Mayor Eric Adams that a shelter would not be built there, prompting Malliotakis to state, “The city lied to the public.”

“A hotel and a homeless shelter are not the same thing,” Morano argued. “If this project was approved under one classification but is being implemented as another, that raises serious questions about transparency and whether the proper procedures were followed.”

The shelter’s proximity to three children’s dance studios and nearby homes has heightened community concerns.

A local business owner shared, “If this gets done, I’d consider moving. There’s a gymnastics school right here, there’s dance studios down the block. This is not the proper environment for homeless men.”

Gail Criscione, owner of Starstruck dance studio, located five minutes from the shelter site, voiced her safety concerns, noting, “I’m just thinking about my girls at night,” as her studio hosts 1,000 students until 11 p.m.

Staten Island officials are calling for a public hearing, insisting residents deserve a say in community developments.

Fossella emphasized, “Our residents do not deserve this shelter, but they certainly deserve the opportunity to be heard. And, they deserve to have their voices heard as soon as possible.”

The mayor’s office and the Sandhu Group have yet to comment on the issue.