There was little activity at the Super 8 motel in Rotterdam on Thursday, May 16, 2024, following an evacuation the previous night due to a malfunctioning sensor in the building’s sprinkler system. The Carman Road motel has been housing migrants since last summer.
It began with an alarm blaring inside the motel. Residents, including migrants and their families, were forced to leave the building on Wednesday afternoon. Alarms had been going off intermittently for a week prior, a resident told the Times Union. This time, they waited outside for hours as firefighters arrived. After briefly being allowed back inside, they were told to wait outside again. Around 9 p.m., staff informed them to pack up all their belongings as the hotel was closing.
Migrants were moved that night to motels in Albany County after an official said a sensor in the sprinkler system failed. Rotterdam Town Supervisor Mollie Collins stated that a town building inspector ordered the motel to vacate after finding “no working fire system.”
The resident, who spoke through a translator and requested anonymity, described the move as chaotic. By 11:30 p.m., they were told a bus would take them to “the city.” By 1 a.m., the bus still hadn’t arrived. Families with their own cars were sent away first. Then, residents were asked if they could afford a ride-hailing service like Uber. They were told to take only essentials to fit in the vehicles. Furniture, bikes, and other belongings were left behind and scattered around the empty motel the next morning.
CBS6, which first reported on the evacuation, mentioned that a bus arrived that evening, was loaded with luggage, and left around 9 p.m. Collins said she was on the scene around 9 p.m. and saw people with suitcases getting into cars by 1 a.m.
A total of 158 people were moved to five other area hotels, according to New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration. The resident was unsure if they would be moved again. While the Mohonasen school district is expected to transport students back to Rotterdam, the resident said they had to rely on ride-hailing services or friends to get their children to school last week.
The Super 8 motel has housed migrants since July after its owners reached an agreement with DocGo, the medical service company hired by New York City to relocate migrants. The displacement of some indigent motel guests to make room for migrants angered local officials.
Emails sent to spokespersons for both DocGo and the city regarding the move were not returned. DocGo referred comments to the New York City mayor’s office.
For months, migrants have complained about the conditions at the Rotterdam motel. In October, at least 20 asylum-seekers protested delays in processing immigration paperwork and poor living conditions. The resident echoed these complaints, citing poor food options, bedbugs, and difficulties in obtaining work permits.
“All we’re asking is to live with dignity,” the resident said.