Koslowitz jail vote hinged on parking, cops and other city promises
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Councilmember Karen Koslowitz said her yes vote on the jail plan hinged on several commitments from the city. Photo by John McCarten for City Council
By David Brand
As the City Council’s historic vote to build four new jails across New York City approached, the deal-making kicked into overdrive, with city officials and proponents in the Council working behind the scenes to get the necessary 26-vote majority — and to give supporters political cover.
For Queens Councilmember Karen Koslowitz, getting to yes took several commitments from the city, including more parking, a jail height reduction, more cops on the beat and capital investments in a local school. Koslowitz represents Kew Gardens, the site of the planned 195-foot-tall detention complex.
“I want to emphasize that I would not have supported this proposal if I believed that it would have a negative impact on the community that I love,” Koslowitz said. “I’ve represented this community for over two decades, and have lived in it for over half a century, and I could never in conscious harm my neighbors.”
Koslowitz was one of several lawmakers who said they were still undecided on the plan in the weeks leading up to the vote — even though she had maintained her support for the borough-based jail since it was announced, despite backlash from local community members and progressive jail opponents.
“I passionately believe that we took a historic step today to create a more just and humane criminal justice system in New York City,” she said.
As Patch reported last week, the city pledged to set aside 25,000 square feet of community space at the jail site, upgrade the Queens Community House and add eight new cops to the 102nd Precinct. The School Construction Authority also agreed to renovate the gym, auditorium and school yard at PS 99 and install outdoor security cameras at PS 99 and PS 139.
On Thursday, moments after the vote, Koslowitz’s office shared information on the other concessions that the councilmember received.
The city will add 676 public parking spaces — 150 more than originally planned — as well as 605 spots for Department of Corrections staff. The city will also conduct air quality and noise monitoring assessments and implement a Construction Transportation Monitoring Plan.
Koslowitz’s support carried significant weight among some members of the council, which has traditionally voted in lockstep with affected members on land use proposals.
Councilmember Daniel Dromm told the Eagle in September that he was “definitely supporting [Koslowitz’s] principled, moral stance" to support the Kew Gardens jail, despite "NIMBY pushback in her district.”
"I really admire her [stance]” even though the plan is unpopular among her constituents, he added.
