“Renewable Rikers” Town Hall THURSDAY with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jessica Ramos and More

Closing the prisons on Rikers Island—rife with corruption, violence and health issues—has been a mainstay of the de Blasio administration since the idea was first presented in 2017. The original 10-year-plan has even been moved up earlier, with a new complete closure date of 2026. In order to create a “smaller, safer and fairer criminal justice system” according to the mayor, the city will be constructing smaller jails closer to courthouses in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx instead.

Which begs the question, what will all that land be used for?

Our own City Council Member Costa Constantinides, along with State Senator Jessica Ramos, Assembly Member Catalina Cruz, and Council Member Daniel Dromm, hope to use it to help make a brighter, greener, safer future for New York City. The local officials—with the recent addition of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—are reimagining the 413-acre land for renewable energy and wastewater treatment infrastructure, both of which are typically situated in low-income and minority communities.

THIS THURSDAY, June 6 at 7:30 p.m., at the Jewish Center of Jackson Heights on 37-06 77th St, they will be hosting a Town Hall to discuss with the community the necessary closure of Rikers Island’s jails and how to use the land productively for once.

Constantinides says:

This oft-forgotten part of my Council District ballooned in size during the 1930s, as the City dumped garbage and ash, upon which it built today’s infamous jails. For decades, both inmate and guard have complained about spontaneous methane leaks they believe negatively impacted their health.

Mark it in your calendar to be a part of the important discourse about this part of NYC within our community!

One Comment

ajm June 3rd, 2019

Call me cynical, but that land will be used for and by whichever real estate developer lines the pockets of DeCrapio with the most money.

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