The Massive Apple’s embattled social services main, Gary Jenkins, will be out of the business for approximately two weeks as the city’s shelter technique strains beneath the fat of thousands of migrants arriving from the southern border.
The revelation that Jenkins is on family vacation comes just hrs right after The Submit released an exclusive report that in-depth how the town is blowing its possess deadlines to established up needed shelter and products and services for the recent arrivals.
When contacted Monday, Jenkins advised a Put up reporter to get in touch with City Hall for remark and then promptly hung up the phone.
“I will be out of the office on Friday, August 26, 2022, and will return on Tuesday, September 6, 2022,” Jenkins’ automated out-of-office e mail reply reads. “I will check e-mails periodically.”
He extra in the notice that “[i]f you have an urgent matter that requirements to be dealt with right before then” individuals producing him must get in touch with two aides.
Jenkins serves as the commissioner of the Division of Social Services, which controls the two companies at the heart of the city’s reaction — the Section of Homeless Companies and the Human Assets Administration.
The newest town stats demonstrate that at minimum 7,000 migrants have arrived in the five boroughs in current months.
Now, they are getting put into current shelters or accommodations the metropolis now contracts with to offer beds on an unexpected emergency basis, services that are sometimes not geared up with the team, and other assets desired to support the current arrivals.
“He’s still finding up the phone, he’s however obtainable, we just experienced a discussion,” mentioned Councilwoman Diana Ayala, who chairs the common welfare committee, which oversees Jenkins’ agency. “Every day in New York Metropolis is an unexpected emergency. He’s entitled to a handful of times to recoup and arrive back more robust.”
Nevertheless, veteran political operatives and earlier officials reported that Jenkins’ absence will more gas the notion that the Adams administration is having difficulties to get its arms all around the disaster as the wave of the latest arrivals adds new strain to an now overcrowded shelter method.
“It’s not the ideal glance for the Social Services Commissioner to be out of town throughout this disaster,” claimed longtime strategist Hank Sheinkopf.
“Having another person to continue to keep the irons scorching is so crucial,” included a veteran of the city’s social services businesses. “Public servants could use a thrust.”
Metropolis Hall and DSS did not instantly return requests for comment.
