CLOSE RIKERS CAMPAIGN CELEBRATES PLAN THAT WOULD LEAD TO RIKERS ISLAND CLOSING

Today, advocates for the closing of Rikers Island celebrated the city's certification of a plan that would do that.

Following the City Planning Commission’s certification of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) application for four borough-based facilities that will facilitate the closure of the 12 jails currently housed on Rikers Island, Brandon J. Holmes, #CLOSErikers campaign coordinator, issued the following statement:

“Today, the City Planning Commission certified the ULURP application for the borough-based facilities that will enable the closure of the Rikers Island jails complex and end this horrific symbol of brutality forever. With every step forward in this historic campaign, #CLOSErikers has taken the plan for closure further than any other effort — to the great credit of directly impacted leaders. The #CLOSErikers campaign celebrates the dedication of directly impacted campaign staff, members, leaders, and partners — and we recognize the sacrifices and long hours people have labored to get us to this moment.

“#CLOSErikers leaders testified at the City Planning Commission hearing in July, urging the Commission to pass this plan that will facilitate the closure of RIkers. The plan will now advance to City Council - the entity that has the power to incorporate key improvements to the Mayor’s proposal, including those in our own campaign plan: further decarceration, a faster route to decarceration and facilities that are not managed by the Department of Correction.

“#CLOSErikers leaders will testify again, at a day-long hearing, urging the City Council land use subcommittee to vote in October to move forward with the historic ULURP to shrink the NYC jail system from 12 jails to 4, and build four borough-based facilities with improved conditions in order to facilitate the closure of the isolated Rikers Island jail complex and the Boat (Vernon C Bain Correctional Center).

“With City Council reviewing the ULURP, advocates are positioned to advance a wide range of budget investments and legislative demands to continue the trends of divesting from incarceration and investing directly into community supports, programs and services that promote true public health and public safety outside of the justice system as detailed in the NYC Roadmap For Mental Health Resources And Diversion released today and in our #buildCOMMUNITIES platform at: www.jlusa.org/buildCOMMUNITIES.”

Led by directly impacted communities and in partnership with more than 150 organizations, the #CLOSErikers campaign fights to close the Rikers jail complex and #buildCOMMUNITIES.