John, I wanted to share a quick story with you today.
Earlier this week, I went on a tour of Rikers Island, an island between Queens and the Bronx where New York City's main jail complex is located. As I toured the facilities with other New York lawmakers, I witnessed the raw inhumanity of our injustice system.
As many of you know, my background is in education. So when I toured the facility, I was thinking from an educator's point of view. I was taken aback by the physical space. Where are the mental health professionals? Where are the psychologists, psychiatrists, the health care providers, the educators?
We need to transform our current, broken system into one of care and rehabilitation — and that begins with decarceration of those locked up because of cash bail or technical parole violations. Thankfully, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation today to decarcerate nearly 200 people on Rikers.
But there is still so much more we need to do. That's why I'm asking if you can make a donation to the Legal Aid Society of New York City today and help support the Decarceration Project today.
Your contribution will go to support the Decarceration Project's work to fight pretrial incarceration, end money bail, and ensure that nobody is detained because they are too poor to purchase their freedom.
It's crucial that we also acknowledge and address the fiscal irresponsibility of continuing to maintain our current decarceration system. New York City spends almost half a million dollars per year to cage someone in Rikers — so not only are people dying, but we're paying for it by the hundred thousands.
John, we have the tools to decarcerate and shift our society towards one that prioritizes our humanity over potential profits. Rather than spending more money to continue the harmful cycle of incarceration in our community, we should take steps to decarcerate in a way that is consistent with the humanity and care that New York should govern with.
So let's come together to uplift those who are putting in the much needed work and resources to lead this movement for change. Please join me in making a donation to the Legal Aid Society of New York City today to help support the Decarceration Project.
In solidarity,
Jamaal Bowman
