By Michael V. Cusenza
The bipartisan Common Sense Caucus of the City Council is urging a United States District Court judge not to place the management of Rikers Island or the City Department of Correction under the authority of a federal receiver.
After a tour of Rikers Island on Tuesday, the caucus, composed of pols from across the political spectrum, including borough Council Members Bob Holden (D-Maspeth; co-chairman of the caucus), Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park), and Vickie Paladino (R-Whitestone), wrote a letter to the Hon. Laura Taylor Swain asking that she consider the potential ramifications of the radical measure to take over the city jail system. The members said they strongly believe that the recent changes implemented by the City administration warrant giving Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Correction Commissioner Luis Molina more time to continue their commendable efforts.
“Our visit to Rikers Island has left us optimistic about the ongoing efforts to reform the system,” the members of the caucus added. “The changes implemented under Mayor Adams and Commissioner Molina are substantial, and we must afford them the time needed to continue their progress. Placing Rikers Island under a federal receiver would come at an enormous cost to taxpayers and could potentially disrupt the positive momentum that is currently building.”
The caucus noted in its letter to Swain that Adams and Molina inherited a Rikers Island jail system that was already in rapid decline.
“The facilities at Rikers have deteriorated from years of purposeful neglect, while laws and policies imposed by previous administrations and legislatures have allowed chaos and violence to flourish there. Even under ideal circumstances, it would have been impossible for anyone to correct these deep-rooted problems in one mayoral term, let alone in less than half of one,” they wrote.
“Despite these obstacles, we can personally attest to the improvements at Rikers since Commissioner Molina took over management of the jail. Almost two years ago, during a visit to the facilities we took in the aftermath of a rash of violent attacks on both inmates and guards at the jail, some of our members were standing in ankle-deep water inside the crumbling walls and cells. On a tour of the jails [on Tuesday], we found the facilities to be in a good state of repair, while overall morale was markedly better despite the strain of having to often work double and triple shifts. Stabbings and slashings at the jail, as well as the use of force, are all down significantly over the past year.”
Holden tweeted on Wednesday, “What a change!” He went on to post that the conditions on the island “have vastly improved from the abysmal state we saw under [Mayor] de Blasio and [Commissioner] Schiraldi.”
The caucus concluded its letter by positing that “Federal receivership is neither a quick fix nor a long-term solution to the problems at Rikers. Fixing Rikers requires a mayor and Department of Corrections leadership dedicated to making the necessary and difficult changes, marshaling the full resources and authority of the City of New York, supported by the local elected officials. The people of New York City have tasked Eric Adams and by proxy, Commissioner Molina with that important job. We ask that you allow them the opportunity to complete it.”
