For several hours Sunday, dozens of homeless advocates protested outside Gracie Mansion, demanding better treatment for hundreds of homeless men who are set to be moved out of the Lucerne Hotel on the Upper West Side, which has been serving as a temporary shelter.

What You Need To Know

  • Dozens of Homeless Advocates Rally Outside Gracie Mansion

  • Demand Mayor Put a Pause to Prevent Homeless Residents from Leaving Upper West Side Homeless Shelter

  • Demand de Blasio Meet with Homeless Residents Who Would be Displaced Before Making Final Decision

The protest overall was peaceful and the goal initially was to apply pressure on Mayor de Blasio, and to let him know they were not pleased with the city’s decision to move hundreds of homeless men out of the Lucerne Hotel into the Harmonia shelter on 31 St in Midtown, where several residents who are disabled have already been displaced to make room for the men.

While the city has paused the plan to move residents out of the shelter in Midtown, protesters, including City Council Member Helen Rosenthal, said they would not leave the section of Carl Shurz Park that faces Gracie Mansion until the mayor agrees to two of their terms, especially when it comes to residents of the Lucerne.

“He has to stop moving people out of their homes,” said Rosenthal. “That comes first, then meet with the people whose disastrous decision this is actually affecting, and then when he has heard from them, and looked into their eyes, then he can make whatever decision he can live with himself with.”