Rockland County hotel that was to receive migrants from NYC forced to close

A notice from the Rockland Health Department is taped to the front entrance of the Orangeburg hotel, stating it must close because it does not have a permit to operate.

Diane Caruso and News 12 Staff

May 12, 2023, 10:45 PM

Updated 517 days ago

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The Rockland County hotel that New York City planned to send migrant men was forced to close until they get a new permit.
Mattresses lined up outside the Armoni Inn and Suites a week ago Friday. Now a notice from the Rockland Health Department is taped to the front entrance, stating the Orangeburg hotel must close because it does not have a permit to operate.
Because of it, the hotel guests' stay was cut short, forcing them to leave on Friday.
As News 12 reported earlier this week, the Health Department letter to the owners stated the hotel's permit expired on April 30 and a new one will be issued if copies of records about the proposed shelter for migrants or asylum seekers are produced.
The city's effort to relocate people prompted Clarkstown to open up their books because they have about 10 hotels and motels.
"We're looking at parts of our building and zoning code," said Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann. He added that there is a public hearing scheduled for June 6 and there will likely be changes to their rules regarding hotels and motels, as well as define what a homeless shelter is.
"We already have some prohibitions in place that we think would prevent New York City from what it's trying to do in Orangeburg. But we're tightening that up," Hoehmann said.
News 12 also checked in with other towns in Rockland and was told Stony Point's current code restricts stays in hotels or motels to no longer than 10 days.
For the Town of Haverstraw, it is no longer than 28 days.
The Town of Ramapo does not have any hotels or motels to regulate because they are located within Villages.
News 12 reached out to Rockland County and the hotel but had not heard back as of Friday evening.
As of Friday morning, Mayor Eric Adam's spokesperson said the Rockland program was paused.