16 JUNE 27, 2019 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Katz rejects Kew Gdns. jail proposal
BY MARK HALLUM
MHALLUM@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@RIDGEWOODTIMES
Ahead of the July 3 deadline for
Melinda Katz to submit her
recommendations to the city
on how to proceed with the proposal
to build a 1.2 million square foot jail in
Kew Gardens, the borough president
decided on Wednesday night to give it
a thumbs down.
With the current proposal following
an outline by the Lippman Commission
in 2017, Katz said on June 19 that the
current proposal would only recreate
the same conditions that led the city
down the path to closing Rikers Island
in the boroughs.
The borough president did not explain
why the current plan fails meet the goals
of creating a more humane atmosphere
for detainees, but reiterated her stance
that the development of the proposal
was lacking in community input
and support.
“Closing Rikers Island is a moral
imperative in our push to create a
dignifi ed, proactive criminal justice
system with safe and humane facilities
that keep people closer to their families
and support structures in their
communities. But building massive
incarceration facilities that will only
replicate the horrific conditions on
Rikers Island in direct contradiction
to the decarceration reforms already
being undertaken is deeply unfair
and counterproductive,” Katz
said. “Reforming our city’s jails system is
too critical a mission to take on without
adequate community engagement or
proper planning, as we must strive to
avoid recreating the same atmosphere
of violence and dehumanization found
on Rikers Island upon four new facilities
in neighborhoods across the city.”
Having issued a letter to Mayor Bill de
Blasio in January calling for the process
to begin again with more community
involvement, hizzoner responded to
Katz saying the plan would not take any
steps backward.
The Kew Gardens jail slated for 126-
02 82nd Ave. would hold 1,500 of the
4,000 people in detention city-wide and
house a facility for all women detained
in the city to be housed as well as receive
services in one central location.
The reduced capacities of the four jails
was designed as a step toward reducing
the overall detention population in
the city.
The borough presidents
recommendation was just one step in
the Uniform Land Use Review Process
that will eventually go the City Planning
Department and City Council for a vote.
Borough President Melinda Katz gave the proposal for the Kew Gardens
jail an offiffi cial but advisory thumbs down. Photo: Mark Hallum/QNS
It is true that residents of the
surrounding neighborhoods have
opposed the jail plan in all four boroughs
where they were proposed, culminating
in Queens at the Community Board
9 meeting where a resolution was
approved to oppose the facility in May
as well as an emotional hearing the
month before.
Many who were part of the
Neighborhood Advisory Committee
were angered by the Mayor’s offi ce in
the early months of 2019 when reporters
were repeatedly barred from meetings
on the plan claiming the move smacked
of impropriety and even tyranny.
Earlier outlines for the plan before
it was further tweaked were released
by MOCJ show a facility that offers
amenities to visiting families and space
at the ground level for organizations
or businesses.
The local residents are not the
only ones in upheaval over the plan.
Organizations are fi ghting the city to
prevent any new jails from being built
while advocating for the closure of
Rikers.
104th Precinct remembers PO Simone
The men and women of the 104th Precinct in Ridgewood held a memorial service and plaque dedication on Monday, June 24, honoring the life of one of
its long-time members, Police Offi cer Joseph Simone. Members of Simone’s family and the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association took part in the ceremony
held at the headquarters. Simone, who died on Sept. 11, 2018 following a medical emergency, served most of his 25 years with the NYPD at the 104th
Precinct. He was particularly noted for his service as Auxiliary Coordinator and with the Schools Unit. Photos via Twitter/@NYPD104Pct
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