As the city continues searching for space to house asylum seekers, Mayor Eric Adams is now offering to pitch in personally. If legally allowed, he said he would like to house "a few families" at Archibald Gracie Mansion.

"If it doesn't go against the legal protocols — because there are protocols that are in place that I can't use the building any way I want — but I don't have a problem if I could put a migrant families in Gracie Mansion," Adams said Tuesday. "Because I want to lead from the front."

What You Need To Know

  • Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday he'd be willing to house "a few" migrant families at Gracie Mansion

  • Adams acknowledged there may be legal restrictions that would prevent any such move

  • Earlier this week, the mayor floated the possibility of placing asylum seekers in private residences

On Monday, Adams floated the possibility of placing asylum seekers in private residences, reimbursing New Yorkers willing to provide the space. Details were scarce on any such plan, which appears to be only in its conceptual stages.

At an unrelated news conference Tuesday, Adams was asked by a reporter if he'd be willing to take migrants into his own home.

"So funny you say that," Adams said. "Because I was speaking with the staff to see if I can put a few families into Gracie Mansion."

"Generals don't send their troops into battle and ask, 'How is the war?' They lead their troops into battle. I'm a general that leads my troops into battle. So, yes, I'm more than willing to use whatever space I have to deal with this crisis."

The city has said it is at the breaking point when it comes to housing asylum seekers, and is pursuing a variety of strategies to relieve stress on the system. On Monday, it announced a partnership with faith leaders to house migrants at houses of worship across the city.

City officials say more than 72,000 migrants have come through its intake centers since last spring, with more than 46,000 currently in the city's care.