City Councilman Lincoln Restler, who previously championed the closure of Rikers Island, has faced criticism from the Adams administration for voicing concerns about the construction of a new jail in his district. Restler expressed dismay over the construction of a 15-story jail complex in Boerum Hill, citing issues with overnight construction activities. The Adams administration denounced Restler as a “hypocrite” for opposing the construction in his own neighborhood despite previously supporting the closure of Rikers Island.
Restler, in his newsletter to constituents, highlighted his support for closing Rikers Island due to recent detainee deaths and emphasized his objections to the mismanagement of the new jail construction. He raised issues regarding noise impacts and late-night construction work, urging better coordination and mitigation efforts from the city agencies involved.
In response, a spokesperson from the Adams administration accused Restler of privately stalling the construction process while publicly advocating for borough-based jails. The spokesperson labeled Restler a hypocrite for his contradictory stance and emphasized the city’s commitment to addressing residents’ concerns while progressing with the jail construction to enhance community safety.
Despite the ongoing construction variances granted for the jail project to meet the completion deadline, public outcry led to a temporary halt in nighttime construction activities. Restler criticized City Hall for dismissing his concerns as he continues to support the closure of Rikers Island but emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts with impacted communities in the development of borough-based jails.
Restler expressed his willingness to collaborate with the neighborhoods where the borough-based jails are being built. He clarified that there is no hypocrisy in his approach, stating that he is not opposed to the project but expects the administration to fulfill its responsibilities and be a considerate neighbor to the community. He highlighted that his district, known for its downtown brownstones, has experienced significant new construction and development, with the residents being accommodating until a certain threshold is reached. Restler raised concerns about the lack of designated parking for police and emergency vehicles at the arraignment court due to ongoing construction, resulting in vehicles parking on sidewalks and crosswalks. He criticized the Adams administration for what he perceives as incompetence. The City Council, along with former Mayor Bill de Blasio, passed a law in 2019 mandating the closure of Rikers Island’s ten jail facilities by August 2027, aiming to replace them with four borough-based jails, excluding Staten Island. However, Adams has questioned the feasibility of the plan, expressing doubts about the timeline for constructing the new jails and shutting down Rikers Island.
