By Jacob Kaye, October 11, 2023 

“The City Council last week passed legislation they say will not only ensure detainees get to their court appearances on time, but will also help the city reach its legally-mandated deadline to close Rikers Island by the summer of 2027.

On Thursday, the city’s legislative body passed a bill that would require the city’s Department of Correction to make a number of changes to how it tracks, documents and reports how it gets detainees to their scheduled court appearances.

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By Gabriele Holtermann, October 10, 2023 

“New York City celebrated a trailblazing housing and social justice advocate last week by co-naming the northeast corner of East 4th Street and Cooper Square “Frances Goldin Way.”

Goldin was remembered at the Oct. 5 ceremony as funny, outspoken, high energy and a great cook. Friends and family called her a “hoot” with an affinity for wearing purple — from her hair down to her underwear.

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October 5, 2023

City Councilmember Carlina Rivera (District 2: East Village, Gramercy Park, Kips Bay, Lower East Side, Murray Hill and Rose Hill) talks about work the Council is doing regarding access to Department of Correction records, transparency around deaths in custody and educational programming in city jails including Rikers Island.

Stream here: https://www.wnyc.org/story/city-council-eyes-department-correction/

By Jacob Kaye, October 5, 2023 

“After having been accused by judges, advocates, lawmakers, oversight agencies, attorneys and others of failing to be transparent about what happens on Rikers Island, the Department of Correction may be legally required to open its records, video recordings and more to an oversight board should two bills set to be introduced in the City Council on Thursday pass into law.

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By Haidee Chu, October 4, 2023

“Dig if you will a new City Council bill, one that is ruffling feathers among businesses that supply doves and white pigeons for release, often during weddings or funerals.

Councilmembers Carlina Rivera, Lynn Schulman and Shaun Abreu last week introduced legislation to ban the commercial release of birds.

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By Catalina Gonella, September 28, 2023 

“Woof. The organizer of the annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade has called off the event after a ruff time trying to cover all the administrative costs.

“PARADE HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE,” the website for the dog run reads atop the homepage. For what would have been its 33rd annual puppy parade, organizers told Gothamist that planning logistics for the event had gotten out of hand.

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By Reuven Blau, September 27, 2023 

“Department of Correction officials would have to notify the public after any death in custody within 24 hours if a bill set to be introduced Thursday becomes law.

The agency overseeing detainee medical care would also have to issue public reports with recommendations to prevent future fatalities.

City Councilmember Carlina Rivera (D-Manhattan), the legislation’s primary sponsor, cited THE CITY’s coverage about the lack of transparency in jail death reporting and secret medical morbidity and mortality reviews conducted by staff at Correctional Health Services.

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By Jacqueline Neber, September 14, 2023 

Read more: https://www.crainsnewyork.com/health-care/elected-officials-neighbors-push-back-beth-israel-closure-plan

September 1, 2023 by Jacob Kaye

Four years – as of Thursday, that’s exactly how long the city has to close its notorious jail complex on Rikers Island. 

Whether or not that deadline of Aug. 31, 2027 can be met by the city is another question entirely, and one whose answer is becoming increasingly unclear.

But with the legally-mandated closure of Rikers Island officially four years away, dozens of advocates, formerly incarcerated New Yorkers and a handful of elected officials gathered outside of City Hall on Thursday to demand that Mayor Eric Adams get the city’s current – and only – plan to shutter the jail back on track. 

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August 31, 2023 by Charles Lane

Elected officials and advocates stood in front of City Hall on Thursday with clocks made of posterboard and started a countdown for when the city jail on Rikers Island will close: four years from today.

Or so they hope.

The rally, which officials including Public Advocate Jumaane Williams;

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