1.) How are you connected to this movement?  

My son is a person incarcerated at Rikers Island. And since he was placed on Rikers Island, I became aware of all of the inhumane conditions that he was encountering. I also became aware of the lack of mental health resources that were available there, and how so many of those that are incarcerated that have a mental health diagnosis, were being punished for their symptoms, rather than being referred for treatment. It just really, honestly, it made me so angry. So that's pretty much how I'm connected to it. Because I'm directly impacted by the inhumane conditions of Rikers Island. 

2.) Why should Rikers close?  

Rikers Island should close because they don't have the resources necessary to rehabilitate and work with people to integrate back into society successfully. Rikers Island should also close because it is a toxic environment: it's built on a landfill, it's disgusting, it's dirty, it's unhealthy. People shouldn't be there. It should also close because it's essentially making people worse. The term Torture Island in a sense is true, because the people who are incarcerated who go there, they come back worse. They encounter more trauma. But even correctional officers, they go in new and all fresh and ready to make a change in society. They come out after years - hear their words. They add to the torture, they mistreat people. It's just not doing what it should be doing. 

3.) What is your vision for a more just and equitable post-Rikers New York City?  

There need to be more resources, especially in low-income neighborhoods that are majority black and brown communities. All the schools are overcrowded. I know firsthand, because I went to school there. They need to invest in the school system. They need to invest more resources: mental health resources, substance use resources, programs for people to go and get rehabilitated without being punished for the symptoms of their disease or their disorder. All the money that's going into the prison and jail system should be used for the school systems, and for more treatment where treatment doesn't look like punishment. Young kids who come from low-income homes, broken homes - there should be some Boys and Girls clubs where they can have a mentor, where they can go to a safe place and get help with schoolwork, and they can meet someone older that's going to guide them through life and give them advice. Things that they have in the suburbs, they need to bring into the city - programs that are to uplift people and not just prepare them to go to Rikers.