NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Construction recently began to replace Rikers Island with four prisons based in the New York City borough.
But many residents who have opposed it from the start are appealing to mayoral candidates to stop the project.
READ MORE: Here’s how the Rikers Island closure plan is supposed to work
As Christina Fan of CBS2, a mob of angry protesters gathered outside the construction site near Queens Borough Hall, trying to stop construction on the city’s new prison.
“Today we have only one voice, to stop building Kew Gardens Prison,†said Donghui Zang, a resident of Queens.
In 2019, the city voted to close the infamous Rikers Island and replace the complex with four smaller prisons located in the borough. Protesters say the city has ignored overwhelming opposition from local residents, choosing a location in Queens near homes and businesses.
“Shutting down Rikers Island is a mistake and is dangerous,†said one person.
“We need to protect the safety of the public. It’s ridiculous what’s going on, â€said another.
“Mega-prisons should not be in residential areas. It’s a danger to the community, â€said David Rem, a resident of Queens.
READ MORE: New York Lawmakers Push “Treatment Act, Not Prisons” – More Comprehensive Support for People in the Legal System
Protesters say they are not against criminal justice reform. but they think it’s better to renovate Rikers than spend $ 8.3 billion on new facilities. They hope the next mayor will agree.
“At the end of the day, there is no money for community prisons,†said Republican candidate for mayor Curtis Sliwa.
While Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa supports retaining Rikers, his rival, Democratic candidate Eric Adams, agrees to shut him down. But his spokesperson told Fan in a statement that Adams “had concerns about the cost, location and scope of some of the new prisons.”
“It’s never a done deal, because anyone who wants to be elected in November has to hear the voice of their own community, has to hear the voice of their own district,” said community organizer Phil Wong. “If they don’t care about the residents and voters in their own district, they don’t deserve my vote and certainly don’t deserve their vote.”
The closure of Rikers will also reduce the capacity of inmates from a population of approximately 5,800 to 3,300.
Protesters fear that fewer cells will mean more violent criminals on the streets.
NO MORE NEWS: Rikers Island closure could be delayed after judge rules city can’t demolish Manhattan detention complex and build new jail
Christina Fan of CBS2 contributed to this report.