Remove Sex Offenders From UWS Hotel, Councilmember Demands

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — In response to the recent arrival of 283 homeless people at the Lucerne Hotel on the Upper West Side, City Councilmember Helen Rosenthal announced multiple demands to the city regarding the use of neighborhood hotels as temporary homeless shelters.

Approximately 500 shelter residents have been placed within nine blocks of each other on the Upper West Side: 100 at the Belnord Hotel at 225 W. 86th St., 100 at the Hotel Belleclaire at 77th and Broadway, and most recently almost 300 at the Lucerne on 79th Street and Amsterdam.

At the center of Rosenthal's demands is the removal of 14 registered sex offenders living at the Belleclaire, along with the demand that no registered sex offenders be allowed to live at the Lucerne.

Out of the 14 registered sex offenders initially placed at the Belleclaire, 10 were level 2 offenders, and four were level 3 offenders, according to the NYS Sex Offender Registry.

Department of Homeless Services Commissioner Steven Banks confirmed to Rosenthal's office that all level 3 sex offenders have been moved out of the Belleclaire.

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Service describes level 3 sex offenders as being at a "high risk of repeat offense and a threat to public safety."

Rosenthal is demanding the rest of the offenders are also moved out of the Belleclaire.

Despite Bank's comments to Rosenthal, the Sex Offender Registration Act cannot restrict where a registered sex offender lives unless the offender is under parole or probation supervision, according to New York's Criminal Justice Service.

However, other New York state laws may limit the offender from living within 1,000 feet of a school or other facility caring for children, according to New York's Criminal Justice Service.

Rosenthal noted in her newsletter to the Upper West Side community that the majority of shelter residents pose no threat to the community and the fact that they have "voluntarily entered shelters signifies their acceptance that they need help."

However, the local official also made it clear that 500 temporary shelter residents are too many in the neighborhood.

"I believe there should be fewer temporary shelter residents in our neighborhood — 500 is just too many," she wrote in her newsletter. "I've made it clear to Commissioner Banks and City Hall that it will be far more feasible to keep our community safe, and properly serve shelter residents, if there are fewer persons living at the Lucerne."

Upper West Siders who see or experience anything of concern are asked to call 646-845-3339. This number will go directly to staff at the Lucerne, who will be available 24/7.

READ MORE: UWS Hotel To Become Temporary Homeless Shelter For 283 People