ADVOCATES CONDEMN ADMINISTRATION’S COMMENTS ON BOROUGH JAIL COMPLETION, CALL FOR URGENT ACTION

Written By John Proctor

The Campaign to Close Rikers, representing more than 180 organizations across the City, condemns the Adam’s administration's continued attempts to undermine the closure of Rikers Island. In budget hearings yesterday, City budget director Jacques Jiha, referring to the completion of the borough-based jails said, "We know it's not going to happen by 2027," while an Adams spokesperson later insisted they will follow the law which requires the closure of Rikers by 2027. As with so many of the administration’s policies, their actions don’t match their words.

To fulfill the City’s legal and moral obligation to Close Rikers, it’s clear what the administration must do - expedite the construction of the borough based jails to align with the 2027 closure deadline, while scaling up proven solutions to reduce incarceration and improve community safety. Anything else is a shameful attempt to extend the existence of an institution that is taking an unbearable human and financial toll on our City.

###

John Proctor
Previous

SURVIVORS OF RIKERS, DIRECTLY IMPACTED FAMILIES, AND ALLIES RALLY BEFORE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET HEARING TO DEMAND A BUDGET THAT SUPPORTS CLOSING RIKERS
Next

AFTER REPORTS ON ADAMS ADMINISTRATION’S PLANS TO EXPAND CAPACITY OF BOROUGH BASED JAILS, FORMERLY INCARCERATED LEADERS AND ALLIES CALL FOR ACTION TO DECARCERATE AND EXPEDITE CLOSURE OF RIKERS ISLAND