Dear Neighbors,
Yesterday, I wholeheartedly joined with my colleagues in approving the land-use component of the City's plan to close jail facilities on Rikers Island by 2026 and construct four new “justice centers" in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.
Voting to shut the deadly, abusive, decrepit Rikers jails forever is one of the most important votes of my career. And we are not just closing Rikers -- we are reducing the number of City jails from 12 to 4, and creating humane facilities that will bring detainees closer to their families and critical resources.
Explaining my vote on the floor of the City Council yesterday.
The Council has also secured additional commitments from the de Blasio administration that are absolutely fundamental to transforming our criminal justice system at the local level:
- Continued reduction of the number of detained New Yorkers in City facilities-- to half the number that are currently in the system;
- Meaningful investment in communities disproportionately harmed by incarceration;
- More counselors, social workers and other supports for incarcerated New Yorkers; and
- The transfer of incarcerated people with serious mental health and medical needs to treatment settings outside of Dept of Correction control.
As Chair of the Committee on Women & Gender Equity, I am especially proud that the Administration has pledged that if an appropriate and more centrally located site becomes available, they will work with advocates and the Council to assess its feasibility for use as a women’s jail ---- in lieu of the current plan to house women in a space adjoining the men’s Queens facility.
I will work closely with advocacy organizations like Close Rosies and the Women's Community Justice Association to seize this historic opportunity and lay the groundwork for a standalone community justice facility for women, trans, and gender non-conforming New Yorkers.
Today, the vast majority --85%-- of females held on Rikers are mothers. As the number of incarcerated women continues to drop, we need a facility with sufficient space for much needed programming, mental health therapy, substance abuse counseling, medical personnel, doulas, and most importantly, for children and other family members.
We need a facility that fully integrates a trauma-informed guiding philosophy to help women build support networks and break the cycle of incarceration and recidivism; a facility that supports recovery, rehabilitation, and family reunification ------ a facility that enables incarcerated women to move forward with their lives. Yesterday we took a profoundly important step toward that vision.
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, visit nyc.gov/NYCHOPE, or call 1-800-621-4673 (HOPE), to find out how you can get help.
Domestic violence occurs in every part of our city, among people of all races, cultures, religions, and income levels. It can happen to someone regardless of age, gender, or sexual orientation. In 2018, the NYPD responded to approximately 300 intimate partner-related domestic incident reports each day.
Awareness is the greatest tool we have in combating DV. Next Thursday, October 24th, Council Members and staff, together with the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) and community advocates, will be walking through neighborhoods across the city and distributing information about domestic violence resources. If you would like to assist my office with community outreach on October 24th, please call Sarah Crean at (212) 788-6975.
Time to Submit Your Ideas for Participatory Budgeting!
Participatory Budgeting (PB) is off and running! PB empowers residents to decide how to spend $1 million to improve our neighborhood. The 2018-2019 project competition was our most successful to date --- almost 5,300 residents voted for their favorite community initiatives.
We are now soliciting project ideas for next year's vote! In order to qualify for the ballot, PB projects must 1.) be physical improvements or equipment (not staff or programming); 2.) be located on City property; and 3.) cost at least $50,000.
Click here to learn more about the PB process, submit a project idea, and see previously funded projects. Want to be a PB community delegate? Email us at [email protected]. (Delegates need to be available for evening meetings in November and December.)
Shredding Event this Sunday!
A reminder that free and secure onsite shredding services will be available this Sunday, October 20th, from 12:30-3pm. Location: 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street). Thank you to the office of Assembly Member Danny O'Donnell for co-sponsoring this event with us.
As always, don't hesitate to contact my City Hall (212-788-6975) or District (212-873-0282) offices with any questions.
Warmly,
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