QNS, May 25, 2018
On May 23, Holden introduced a bill that would create a commission to study the cost of renovating Rikers Island, which he said is a vital piece of information to consider before the city continues moving forward with Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan to reduce the inmate population, close the prison and open smaller jails in each borough by 2027.
Fellow Queens Councilmen Eric Ulrich and Paul Vallone, as well as Councilman Mark Gjonaj from the Bronx and Councilman Kalman Yeger from Brooklyn, also voiced support of the bill.
“We have the numbers where borough-based jails are concerned, but we should know the cost of rejuvenating Rikers’ facilities to determine if it’s a viable alternative,” Holden said in a press release. “If we’re going to have taxpayers foot the bill for the city’s jail facilities, we should be able to show them the facts and figures.”
