Task force announces change in strategy

On the night of Friday, December 2, 2016, the Maspeth residents present at the nightly hotel protest, almost unanimously voted to no longer protest on the streets of Maspeth.  Instead, efforts will be focused on protesting at the homes of the business partners of New Ram Realty, owners of the Maspeth Holiday Inn Express.

“We realized that we were keeping paying customers away from the hotel, which in turn freed up more rooms for DHS to rent,” said Robert Holden, President of Juniper Park Civic Association, a member of the task force. “By bringing the protests to the doorsteps of Harshad Patel and his cronies, we will let them know that we are not backing down until they end their relationship with the city and Acacia Network at the Maspeth Holiday Inn Express.”

The first of several planned bus trips is scheduled for Sunday, December 11th to Patel’s residence at noon.

On Columbus Day weekend, the DHS started moving homeless single men into the Maspeth Holiday Inn Express, against the wishes of Mendon Leasing, the land owner, which has filed a lawsuit against the Holiday Inn owners.  The hotel currently houses 100 homeless men and 2 sets of bunk beds are present in the rooms.

Citizens for a Better Maspeth is a member of the Maspeth-Middle Village task force.