On Tuesday, the City Planning Commission approved the de Blasio administration's plan to close Rikers Island and build four new jails in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx. (The new Brooklyn jail would be constructed at the site of the current Brooklyn House of Detention at 275 Atlantic Avenue.) The city council vote represents the last stop in the land use review process known as ULLURP. Throughout the process, the BHA has advocated as part of a local stakeholder coalition for closing Rikers Island and replacing the current Brooklyn House of Detention, but also for the height and bed capacity of the new Brooklyn jail to be greatly reduced. We have also urged the city to implement necessary reforms such as expanding alternative sentencing programs and to offer more and better educational and economic opportunities for youth across the city. Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and CB2 have raised similar concerns. The BHA will testify at the public hearing tomorrow – you can read our planned testimony here. Want to attend? A large crowd is anticipated, so you should plan to arrive early and sign in as a speaker upon arrival. Submit written testimony with Borough Based Jails as the subject line to hearings@council.nyc.gov |
