New York City will move to end its contract with a medical services company tasked with housing and caring for a recent influx of international migrants, following criticism over the company's lucrative deal with the city and the quality of its humanitarian services.
Mayor Eric Adams' office announced Tuesday that the city will not renew its contract with the company DocGo before the agreement expires on May 5, and that it will instead look for a new provider of migrant housing services.
DocGo, which had already worked with the city to provide COVID-19 diagnostic testing, last year was awarded a no-bid emergency contract worth $432 million to help the city manage a huge population of new migrants .
The deal raised questions from City Comptroller Brad Lander, who in reviewing the contract determined there were insufficient details to justify the cost and that it was unclear how the company had the expertise to transport, house and feed thousands. of migrants.
Reports of the The New York Times and the Albany Times Union They also detailed alleged mistreatment of migrants in the company's care, including problems with medical care and food waste, among other things. His CEO resigned after he admitted to lying about his academic record.
DocGo currently provides care to 3,600 migrants in New York, half of them in the metropolitan area and the other half in upstate New York, officials said.
The company will continue to provide services to migrants who were relocated upstate until a new provider is chosen, and the city's goal is to have a new contractor before the end of the year. In New York City, authorities will temporarily use an existing contract with Garner Environmental Services to serve migrants.
“Ultimately, this will save the city more money and allow others, including non-profit organizations and internationally recognized resettlement providers, to apply to carry out this critical work, and ensures that we are using city funds efficiently,” Camille Joseph Varlack, the mayor’s chief of staff, said in a statement.
The city has other contracts in place with DocGo, and will continue to work with the company on those agreements.
A DocGo spokesperson said in a statement that the company is “immensely proud of the exceptional work our team has done and continues to do to assist the city in its response to this unprecedented crisis.”
New York has struggled to cope with an influx of migrants that has arrived in the city since 2022, with more than 187,000 people passing through its reception system seeking shelter.
Political It was the first media to announce that the city will not renew its contract with DocGo.
Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channels Youtube, WhatsApp and to newsletter. Turn on notifications and follow us on Facebook, x and instagram.
