The administration of Eric Adams strongly criticized a Brooklyn legislator who initially advocated for the closure of Rikers Island but later expressed concerns about the development of a new borough-based jail in his own district. City Councilman Lincoln Restler raised issues about the construction of a 15-story jail complex in Boerum Hill, labeling it a significant problem, especially during nighttime hours. In response, City Hall labeled Restler as a “hypocrite.”
Restler voiced his worries about the new complex at 275 Atlantic Ave. in a newsletter to his constituents, highlighting mismanagement during the demolition of the old Brooklyn Detention Center and expressing hopes for better coordination and noise mitigation for the new construction. Despite supporting the closure of Rikers Island, Restler criticized the handling of the new jail’s construction process by the Adams administration.
City Hall fired back at Restler, accusing him of trying to stall the construction of a borough-based jail in his neighborhood despite publicly advocating for the closure of Rikers Island. The administration emphasized its commitment to addressing residents’ concerns about overnight noise while continuing with the construction to enhance community safety.
Restler maintained his support for closing Rikers Island but urged the city to collaborate with neighborhoods where borough-based jails are proposed. Construction variances have been granted for the jail project to facilitate work outside regular hours, aiming for a 2029 completion date. Recent public outcry led to a pause in nighttime jack-hammering on Atlantic Avenue.
Restler criticized City Hall’s remarks as a “disingenuous cheap shot,” emphasizing his focus on addressing noise disturbances throughout the day. He reiterated his support for expediting the closure of Rikers Island while advocating for improved communication and noise mitigation measures in communities hosting borough-based jails.
Restler expressed a desire to collaborate with the neighborhoods where the borough-based jails are being constructed. He clarified that he is not opposed to the project but simply wants the administration to fulfill its responsibilities and be considerate neighbors to the community. As a representative of the downtown brownstone district, he highlighted the significant amount of new construction in the area and emphasized the need for reasonable actions to prevent reaching a breaking point. Restler criticized the lack of dedicated parking for police and emergency vehicles near the arraignment court due to ongoing construction, leading to vehicles parking on sidewalks and crosswalks. He attributed this issue to what he perceives as incompetence within the Adams administration. The plan to close Rikers Island’s 10 jail facilities by August 2027 and replace them with four borough-based jails, excluding Staten Island, was approved by the City Council and former Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2019. However, Adams has raised doubts about the plan’s effectiveness and has expressed concerns about the impracticality of the proposed construction timeline.
