New York, NY —

Crown Heights residents packed a community board hearing in Brooklyn last night to protest the relocation of an intake center for homeless men to their neighborhood.

A deputy commissioner from the Department of Homeless Services tried to alleviate their concerns. But Brooklyn city councilwoman Latisha James argued that the intake center should remain in Manhattan because that's where most homeless men congregate.

JAMES: Brooklyn is not convenient to the homeless unless you ride the Long Island Railroad because that's the closest station.

REPORTER: The intake center would be housed inside an existing men's shelter at the Bedford Atlantic Armory that residents say is poorly run. The city says improvements are on the way in the form of additional staff, more security and fewer beds.