Carmel, NY – Last week, Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne personally presented at the Rules Committee of the Putnam County Legislature, chaired by Legislator Toni Addonizio. The committee voted unanimously to advance legislation that would prohibit any outside municipality, which includes New York City, from housing its homeless population, which would also include migrants and/or asylum seekers, within Putnam County’s temporary residency permitted facilities, without first entering into a shared services agreement with Putnam County. The County Executive, members of the legislature, and other officials all made note that, despite what opponents claimed, these measures would not prevent existing or future homeless shelters and service providers from operating within the county.  The rules committee also voted unanimously to advance a resolution that would declare Putnam County a “rule of law” county. The public meeting was attended by over 40 concerned residents who voiced their support for both the measures.

Both proposals are now eligible for a full vote of the county legislature, where they could become codified into local law. These measures are similar to two of the three Executive Orders previously enacted as part of the State of Emergency executed by Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne. These were filed on May 22, 2023, in relation to New York City’s moves to relocate asylum seekers to Hudson Valley counties without proper coordination with local municipalities.

“The City of New York has not been forthcoming or transparent throughout this process. We know for a fact that after promoting the Hudson Valley as a destination for their migrant placement program, their representatives contacted at least one facility in Putnam. Like the experiences reported by our neighboring counties in Orange, Rockland, and Dutchess, this was done without any coordination with county officials,” said County Executive Byrne. “We believe that our declared State of Emergency and corresponding Executive Orders worked as intended. To our knowledge, New York City has not had further conversation with facilities here in Putnam County. Executive Orders are effective but are for responding to emergencies and not viable as a long-term solution. Legislation should be considered by our county’s elected lawmakers. I’m extremely thankful to Chairman Paul Jonke and Rules Committee Chair Addonizio for their leadership and efforts to get this important legislation through for a vote at the full legislative meeting.”

“Putnam County does not have the resources to take on the burden that New York City has chosen to accept,” said Chairman Paul Jonke. “The purpose of this legislation is to give the County the ability to preserve residents’ rights, protect their well-being, and reinforce that we are definitively not a sanctuary county. New York City has not been honest throughout this crisis, and our actions have successfully kept them from dropping migrants who have limited resources to support themselves on our doorstep.”

The “rule of law” county designation recommits the county’s law enforcement relationship with federal immigration enforcement agencies in addition to its support of the U.S. Constitution, state Constitution, County Charter, and other laws. The reality is, as a practical matter, the “sanctuary” designation has taken on a new function serving as a magnet for migrants, regardless of status, who also require additional services which should be addressed separately at the federal level, not the county level. The Rule of Law designation makes it clear Putnam County, while a carrying and compassionate county, is definitively not a “sanctuary county”.

“I’ve heard from many of my neighbors about this migrant issue. We’re trying to be as transparent as possible in this process, especially in the wake of New York City failing to be honest with communities north of Westchester County,” said Legislator Addonizio. “I supported the County Executive when he declared a state of emergency with regards to this migrant crisis, and it’s why I pushed for us to make some of these rules permanent.”

Last month, County Executive Byrne sent a letter to all hotels, motels, and temporary residencies in Putnam County asking for their cooperation and transparency in communicating if they have received an inquiry from New York City officials or their representatives regarding rooms for migrants. They were informed that one facility had been contacted by representatives of New York City asking for a 6 month to 5-year contract to house individuals, and that the facility declined the offer.

Over the past couple of months, Putnam County officials have also been in communication with neighboring counties (Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, Westchester) about their plans moving forward, as part of an effort to foster transparency in the face of a lack of transparency from New York City and the federal government.

For full audio of the meeting, CLICK HERE