Arnaldo Salinas, senior director of the Guardian Angels, led a rally and patrol presence on the new Bruckner Blvd. migrant shelter web site on Feb. 28, 2025.
Picture Emily Swanson
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The Guardian Angels have begun patrolling exterior the newly-opened South Bronx migrant shelter sporting their signature crimson jackets and berets, in an effort they hope will deter crime and ease residents’ fears over public security. The nonprofit group, based by present Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, has labored the streets of NYC since 1979.
Working alongside volunteer residents and clergy, the Guardian Angels held a rally Friday, saying plans to patrol East 141st Road and Bruckner Avenue 5 days every week on rotating shifts.
The two,200-bed shelter, which has confronted fierce neighborhood opposition, opened on Feb. 22 and now seems to be processing many extra residents for move-in. Because the Guardian Angels and others rallied exterior, a gentle stream of males arrived with baggage and suitcases and lined up exterior to be checked in.
Males arrive on the shelter on Feb. 28, 2025.Picture Emily Swanson
Pastor Boyde Singletary, who was a part of the rally and had organized earlier rallies in opposition to the shelter, instructed the Bronx Occasions that he has already seen individuals he assumed to be migrants smoking and taking pictures up medication on the road close by. “At any moment, they could snap,” he mentioned.
Singletary mentioned he and fellow volunteers plan to obtain coaching on self-defense and battle de-escalation. Whereas he doesn’t count on to confront many violent conditions, they need to be ready simply in case, he mentioned. “If we don’t shield girls and kids, who will?
The Guardian Angels has obtained quite a few calls from involved residents asking for his or her presence, Senior Director Arnaldo Salinas instructed the Bronx Occasions.
Salinas mentioned he grew up 5 blocks from the shelter web site and remembers the Sixties and 70s when the South Bronx was overrun with crime and violence. With the shelter, “It looks like we’re reverting back to the old days,” he mentioned.
Town mentioned it has applied safety measures on the shelter, together with steel detectors, ID checks, a curfew and safety guards, and likewise mentioned it will present residents a technique to contact shelter administration with any issues or considerations. The Bronx Occasions contacted Metropolis Corridor to ask whether or not such contact info exists and has not but obtained a reply.
Talking to the small group of rally attendees, Salinas known as for extra neighborhood members to return ahead. “Unless we, the citizenry of New York, stand up to what’s going on here, it’s going to continue,” he mentioned. He known as on residents to “stop Monday-morning quarterbacking” and are available out in numbers to make their opposition heard.
“People need to wake up,” mentioned Salinas.
Shifting with warning
Because the shelter fills, individuals who dwell and work close by mentioned they’re going about their lives with elevated warning.
An worker of a close-by enterprise mentioned that his small staff of 5 is fearful about car thefts and break-ins and that nobody walks to the practice alone anymore.
He has seen NYPD officers exterior the shelter, which “does make us feel safe,” however needs there have been extra. “Four on 2,200 is not the best odds.”
A Riverdale resident who requested to not have her identify printed mentioned she attends an artwork faculty throughout the road and is there full-time most days. She mentioned that as a white lady, she worries about being focused whereas strolling to the practice.
She plans to donate cash to the Guardian Angels, she mentioned. “This is a travesty.”
Tyreek Goodman, who’s working for Metropolis Council District 8, took the mic to instantly handle the group of migrants ready exterior. “You are not our enemy. We are not your enemy,” he instructed them. “We’re not here to target y’all.”
Nonetheless, Goodman mentioned he was disillusioned on the lack of continued engagement from elected officers in opposing the shelter. “We don’t have time for political games. This is real life.”
On this rally and people prior, Singletary and different residents expressed frustration on the lack of communication from the town earlier than opening the shelter and now. He and others have many questions on safety on the web site and the way a lot cash is flowing to it, and from the place. “We will patrol every week until we get an answer,” he mentioned.
