By TimesLedger Staff
Two Queens lawmakers called a possible plan by the de Blasio adminstration to build a jail in College Point to house Rikers inmates “outrageous.”
The joint statement by state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) and state Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz (D-Flushing) followed a report Thursday by DNAinfo New York quoting unnamed sources as saying City Hall is looking at opening two new city jails in the boroughs if Rikers is shut down.
The story said the city has identified possible sites in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island and Queens where the new jails could be built. Sources told DNA Info College Point near the new Police Academy could be a candidate. The administration is also considering renovating detention centers for the inmates.
“It’s outrageous that the city would even think about burdening the College Point community yet again with another large-scale development — let alone proposing that it be a jail that would house 2,000 criminals,” Avella said.
He accused the mayor of going behind Queens’ back while the borough’s elected officials are protecting him in Albany.
“College Point Corporate Park has become a convenient dumping ground for large-sale development and relocations, a burden borne by our residents,” Simanowitz said. “Moreover, this plan blatantly ignores public safety and quality-of-life issues.”
