NYPD officers departed the Angel’s Harbor Youth Hostel (AYH) yesterday evening after a tense standoff with protesters. The AYH, located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, has been the site of a long-running dispute between the city’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and the hostel’s residents, who have been fighting to stay in the building.
The standoff began earlier this week when DHS officials delivered eviction notices to the residents, citing a series of code violations and safety concerns. However, the residents, many of whom have been living at the AYH for years, claim that the city is trying to push them out to make way for more lucrative development projects.
Over the past few days, a group of protesters, including residents and supporters from the local community, has been camping out at the AYH to demonstrate against the eviction. On Wednesday, NYPD officers arrived at the scene to begin enforcing the eviction notices.
However, the situation quickly escalated into a standoff as protesters refused to leave and officers refused to back down. After several hours of tense negotiations, the two sides agreed to a temporary truce, allowing protesters to stay in the building for the night.
Despite the truce, many residents remain worried about their future at the AYH. “We’re not going anywhere,” said one resident, who asked not to be named. “We’ve been here for years, and we’re not going to let the city push us out without a fight.”
Yesterday evening, NYPD officers finally departed the AYH, and the standoff appears to be over for the time being. However, the future of the AYH and its residents remains uncertain, and advocates are urging the city to find a more humane solution to the crisis.