Four billion dollars and four years late: Queens jail is over budget and behind schedule

Four billion dollars and four years late: Queens jail is over budget and behind schedule

Queens’ borough-based jail set to be built in Kew Gardens will cost taxpayers at least $4 billion and may be completed four years after the city’s legally-mandated deadline to close Rikers Island, city records show.

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Mayor claims borough-based jails can’t be built by Rikers’ closure deadline

Mayor claims borough-based jails can’t be built by Rikers’ closure deadline

Repeating what top members of his administration have begun to suggest in recent weeks, Mayor Eric Adams said on Tuesday that his administration has little to no shot of building four borough-based jails by the time Rikers Island is legally-mandated to shutter as a jail complex in 2027.

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Mayor calls for new Rikers closure proposal as his administration fails to follow current plan

Mayor calls for new Rikers closure proposal as his administration fails to follow current plan

Mayor Eric Adams doubled down on his opposition to the plan to close Rikers Island on Tuesday and called on the City Council to craft a new proposal to close the city’s jail complex where over two dozen people have died since the mayor took office last year.

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Adams administration continues to miss Rikers closure deadlines

Adams administration continues to miss Rikers closure deadlines

The Adams administration has yet to complete a single transfer of land on Rikers Island, a crucial part of the city’s plan to turn the jail complex into a renewable energy hub by 2027.  

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Jail boss blames courts for rising Rikers population

Jail boss blames courts for rising Rikers population

Rikers Island’s population is growing larger when it should be getting smaller. DOC Commissioner Louis Molina said the blame lies with the state court system during a Board of Correction meeting this week.

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Speaker Adams bashes mayor on plan to close Rikers

Speaker Adams bashes mayor on plan to close Rikers

“The inconsistent statements from the administration over the past few days have unacceptably created questions where there should be no questions,” the speaker said. “Rikers must close by 2027 and we cannot allow it to continue undermining public safety issues across our city.”

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