4 OCTOBER 5, 2017 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Lawmakers eye former Kew Gardens detention center if Rikers Island closes
BY ANTHONY GIUDICE
AGIUDICE@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM
@A_GIUDICEREPORT
If Rikers Island closes, an empty
jail in Kew Gardens should be
re-opened, according to most of
Queens’ City Council delegation.
Nearly a dozen lawmakers from
across Queens have offi cially signed
on to a letter urging Mayor Bill de
Blasio to select the former Queens
Detention Complex in Kew Gardens
as the site for the borough’s reduced
inmate population if the plan to close
Rikers Island moves forward.
This eff ort is being led by Councilwoman
Elizabeth Crowley, chair of
the City Council Committee on Fire
and Criminal Justice Services, and
Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz, chair
of the Queens Delegation.
In its plan to close Rikers Island, Independent
Commission on New York
City Criminal Justice and Incarceration
Reform (aka the Lippman Commission)
proposes a borough-based
jail facility model where jailhouses
are located in community civic centers
and near court infrastructure.
Many residents of Queens fear that
this would mean opening up smaller,
community-based jails near their
homes, schools, jobs and shopping
centers.
The lawmakers, however, contend
that using the Kew Gardens facility
would mean there would be no need
for community jails, as the inmates
would be housed in the former detention
facility near the court system.
“The center was originally built
for this purpose and for many years
operated with little incident to the surrounding
community,” the letter reads.
“At the same time, selecting this facility
would avoid the fraught process of
placing community jails in residential
neighborhoods throughout the borough,
a move that we as lawmakers
committed to the goals of the Lippman
Commission forcefully oppose.”
Crowley and Koslowitz, as well as
the other elected offi cials who signed
the letter, believe that the plan to close
Rikers Island over a 10-year period
would be benefi cial for the city, the inmates
and their families, the workers
on the island, and taxpayers.
“Busing inmates to and from Rikers
Island to get to their court appearances
is fi scally irresponsible, illogical and
dangerous,” Crowley said. “Reverting
back to the original model will save
our taxpayers millions of dollars and
help create a criminal justice system
that better refl ects our values as New
Yorkers.”
The request to use the former detention
center was made aft er Koslowitz
and Crowley — joined by Councilman
Barry Grodenchik and city Department
of Corrections (DOC) personnel —
took a tour of the Kew Gardens facility,
visiting the inmate intake center, cell
blocks and recreational spaces.
“Rikers Island is a detriment to our
city and an embarrassment to our
criminal justice system. Last week, I
toured the former Queens Detention
Complex and there needs to be work
done, either through expansion or
a complete reconstruction, to be
able to house an inmate population,”
Koslowitz said. “The site would be
convenient because of its proximity to
the Criminal Court and would reduce
the cost and traffi c associated with
transporting prisoners. However, we
need to ensure if a plan like this moves
forward, that there is a long public discussion
centered on the community’s
concerns.”
According to the lawmakers, de Blasio’s
plan to close Rikers Island, unlike
the Lippman report, does not specify
where the city is planning on placing
these new jails. Most recently, City Hall
has stated that it will likely not weigh in
on the issue until the end of 2017.
The other lawmakers to sign off on
the letter include Council members
Costa Constantinides, Donovan Richards,
Grodenchik, Peter Koo, Rory
Lancman, Jimmy Van Bramer, Antonio
Reynoso, Daniel Dromm and Julissa
Ferreras-Copeland.
Moving forward with their plan,
the lawmakers intend on making
their case to city offi cials and will
begin looking into possible public
funding streams to conduct work in
conjunction with rehabilitating the
site for future use.
Photo courtesy of Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley's offi ce
Several elected offi cials from across Queens want to see the Queens
Detention Complex reopen if Rikers Island closes.
City budget & internships
top next Board 5 meet
All are invited to attend the
next Community Board 5
monthly meeting scheduled
to take place on Wednesday night,
Oct. 11, in Middle Village.
As announced by Board 5 District
Manager Gary Giordano, the session
takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria
of Christ the King High School,
located at 68-02 Metropolitan Ave.
The agenda includes a board vote
on its Capital and Expense Budget
Priorities for the city’s 2018 fi scal
year.
There will also be a presentation
from representatives of LaGuardia
Community College in Long Island
City regarding its Young Adult
Internship Program.
Other items on the agenda include
the public forum; a review of liquor
license applications and demolition notices;
reports by Board 5 Chairperson
Vincent Arcuri and District Manager
Giordano; and committee reports.
For more information or to register
to speak in advance, call Board 5
at 718-366-1834.
Thursday, October 12, 8PM
St. Pancras Pfeiffer Hall
68-20 Myrtle Avenue, Glendale
