The city has launched a new campaign to convince migrant children to go to school instead of dangerously selling food and drinks on the side of the roads.
A multi-agency task force quietly formed two months ago – made up of staff from the Administration for Children’s Services, the Department of Education and the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic Violence and sexist – will now focus on roadside awareness after the Post revealed last week. how young migrant children regularly hawked on the main thoroughfares of southwest Queens.
The task force is currently focusing its efforts on municipal shelters to try to convince migrant parents to send their children to school.
“I’m glad to see the city is finally addressing this issue after almost two years of discussions about it,” said Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Queens). “I just hope they don’t waste additional time conducting unnecessary studies and focus groups before the task force actually hits the streets and starts making a difference.”
City Hall spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak said the task force would prioritize the “well-being of children and their possible exploitation.”
“Their job includes ensuring that school-age children are enrolled in schools, that parents are aware of safe after-school programs available for children, and that child care referrals – to community organizations that we partner with – are done wherever possible,” Mamelak said.
More than 185,000 migrants have arrived in the Big Apple since spring 2022, and the city is home to about 65,000.
The city has already spent about $3.5 billion to address the migrant crisis, and Mayor Eric Adams projects the price tag will reach $12 billion by the end of the 2025 fiscal year.
New York Post
