Floyd Bennett Field Lawsuit Dismissed

Bt John Schilling, The Wave, March 13, 2024

 After months of court proceedings, the Floyd Bennett Field migrant camp lawsuit has been dismissed by Judge Peter Sweeney, NYC Councilwoman Joann Ariola’s office announced on Wednesday, March 13.

The lawsuit, which stemmed from a Sept. 19 injunction filed by NYC Councilwoman Joann Ariola, NYS Assemblywoman Jaime Williams, NYS Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato and 36 other elected officials and civic leaders, challenged New York State’s authority to house migrants on Floyd Bennett Field, a national park site.

“We are extremely disappointed to learn of Judge Sweeney’s decision to dismiss our case in the Floyd Bennett Field lawsuit,” Ariola said. “We ask that Judge Sweeney publish the memorandum explaining exactly why he has decided this way, and we will continue to do what we can to push for an immediate closure of the tent complex at Floyd Bennett Field.”

“I am appalled by Judge Sweeney’s decision to dismiss our case, and disgusted to learn that he did so without notifying either party or the public,” Williams added. “We would love to know why he feels it is prudent to place 2000 human beings in a flood zone in the middle of a National Recreation Area. This is a disgrace and an insult to every tax paying citizen whom resides in the area around Floyd Bennett Field, and a disservice to the people who are being forced to live in this compound.”

“I believe Judge Sweeney made the wrong decision by dismissing our case against the poorly planned and ill-conceived housing for migrants at Floyd Bennett Field,” Pheffer Amato said. “I participated in this lawsuit because federal parkland should not be used for housing anyone, let alone parkland that is in a recognized flood zone with nearly no resources. This is a federal problem and no matter how you feel, it is clear that Floyd Bennett Field is an inhumane location to house migrants and should not be allowed.”