Public review process begins for plan to actually close Rikers jails
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Rikers Island. AP Photo by Seth Wenig
By David Brand
Back when city officials were developing a sweeping land use proposal that supporters said would close the jails on Rikers Island, they omitted one key component of the overall plan: a clause that would actually close the jails on Rikers Island.
The City Council’s Land Use Committee moved to address the ommission by introducing a land use measure that would preclude detention facilities from Rikers just days before the full council voted on the plan to build four new borough-based jails.
Read more: Districting quirk means Queens has key role in final Close Rikers plan
The jail construction plan ultimately passed, but the public review process for the jail closure plan is just getting started
On Thursday at 10:30 a.m., Queens Borough Hall will host a public forum on a specific map change provision that would permanently close Rikers jails by specifically excluding the construction and use of detention facilities.
The Rikers map change would correct the city’s initial land use oversight by Dec. 31, 2026. And unlike the borough-based jail plan that required input from four of the five boroughs, Queens will have the final word on the closure plan.
Rikers Island is technically part of the Bronx, but it is located within Queens Community District 1.
That means Queens Community Board 1 and the Queens borough president will make recommendations on the map change plan as part of the Universal Land Use Review Procedure, or ULURP, a monthslong process that enables affected communities to review and address zoning changes.
It remains unclear who will weigh in as Queens borough president, however.
The acting borough president, Sharon Lee, will only serve until a special election to replace former Borough President Melinda Katz on March 24. Eight candidates are running to replace Katz.
