The city begins the land use process to make Rikers Island a public space after the prison complex is closed. QNS/File
City begins public review process to
make Rikers Island a public space
BY BILL PARRY
Several members of the
Queens delegation to the City
Council applauded the start of
the land use process to officially
prohibit the incarceration of
individuals on Rikers Island
after Dec. 31, 2026, when the
borough-based jail system is
expected to be in operation.
The land use application
filed Monday is the first step in
the Uniform Land Use Review
Process (ULURP) to change
Rikers’ designation on the official
city map to a public place.
“Rikers Island has been
a stain on New York City for
nearly a century, with thousands
of people subjected to
physical and mental anguish
under a broken system,” Councilman
Costa Constantinides
said. “As the representative for
Rikers Island, I am proud to
see the ULURP commence and
ensure that these 413 acres are
never again used for this kind
of torture. The future of Rikers
Island should get restorative
justice for the over-policed
and over-polluted communities
marginalized for too long.
I look forward to the continued
engagement of key stakeholders,
especially those impacted
by Rikers Island, to make that
happen.”
The leader of the Queens
delegation, Councilwoman
Karen Koslowitz, who faced
intense blowback from her
constituents for her support of
a prison facility in Kew Gardens
at the location of the old
Queens Detention Complex,
was also pleased the city began
the process.
“I am gratified that the administration
is moving swiftly
to lay the groundwork for making
Rikers Island an asset for
all New Yorkers,” she said.
The proposed action does
not lead to any new development
or construction on its
own; the application is solely
focused on changing the mapping
of Rikers to end its use
for jails. Any future plans will
require a new planning and
public review process, including
a separate approval for and
environmental review process
if necessary.
“Closing Rikers requires a
roadmap to get there and this
plan demonstrates our commitment
to doing just that.
Once it is put in place, the
hellhole known as Rikers will
never again be used to incarcerate
New Yorkers,” Councilman
Daniel Dromm, the first
elected official to call for the
closure of the jail complex,
said. “The people of NYC will
decide what is to become of the
island. This plan ensures the
community will participate in
determining its future use.”
The filing of the ULURP is
the latest step made possible
by the city’s efforts to substantially
reduce its levels of incarceration.
The number of people
in the city’s jails currently is
fewer than 7,000, the lowest
rate since the late 1970s, and it
remains on course for a prison
population of fewer that 3,300
by 2026.
“The proposed change to
the city map to establish Rikers
Island as a public space solidifies
the administration’s commitment
to end incarceration
in this space,” Councilwoman
Adrienne Adams said.
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TIMESLEDGER, D 4 EC. 6-12, 2019 QNS.COM
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