NYC Hotel Throws 'A Ton' Of Packed Meals Daily Because Migrants Won't Eat Them

Nearly a ton of packed meals get thrown out in the trash daily at the luxurious Row NYC hotel as migrants shun prepared meals provided by the New York City Hall.

Felipe Rodriguez, a Row hotel employee, said he considers wasting so much food a "crime," as pictures revealed garbage bags full of meals and hotel rooms littered with empty beer cans and bottles.

"It's a crime to be throwing out so much food," Rodriguez told the New York Post.

Rodriguez said at least 40% of the food provided to migrants at the hotel gets wasted.

"How do I know that? Because the sanitation guys go floor-by-floor every day picking up the trash," Rodriguez said.

"Before, it used to be something like six, seven bags in the back landing of each floor. Now they're picking up 15-20 bags."

Rodriguez called out the situation, saying the New York City Hall should have ordered less food for the migrants to prevent food waste.

The hotel employee also shared that he confiscated hot plates, pressure cookers and other forbidden kitchen items, noting that migrants "don't like the menu" and wanted cooked meals rather than sandwiches.

Rodriguez recalled an incident when he saw smoke and a fire alarm went off. He entered the room and discovered a pot of burned food with other kitchen appliances.

He said the hotel prohibits migrants from cooking in the rooms because of the polyester curtains, which could cause a massive fire in the property.

In their defense, the New York City Hall said they are offering migrants "a food selection that reflects the diets of residents," as well as preparing the meals same-day to ensure freshness.

The City Hall noted that they had invited the hotel residents to participate in surveys to help them fix and expand menu options. Authorities have also claimed that they donate migrants' leftover food when possible.

In November, Mayor Eric Adams announced that New York City would be using the 28-story, 1,300-room hotel to shelter migrants who are seeking asylum in the U.S., along with four other Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers in Manhattan.

Before the Row hotel was converted into a migrant shelter, a night in one room could cost $400. But the City Hall is reportedly paying a daily rate as high as $500 per room.

Since June, about 36,400 migrants have arrived in New York City. This led Mayor Adams to request the Biden administration $1 billion to assist them in processing migrants.