Wants More Jails
A copy of the following letter was received by the Gazette.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
Dear Mayor Bloomberg,

State Sen. George Onorato and Assemblymember Mike Gianaris join me in offering our full support for the plan to restructure the city's jail system, taking prisoners off Riker's Island and placing them in new facilities in Brooklyn and The Bronx. We endorse any strategy that would reduce the burden on Riker's- which shuttles thousands of prisoners and guards through Astoria each year- and jump start a citywide initiative to streamline the incarceration process.

I understand that many people have misgivings about bringing new correctional facilities into their neighborhood. It is unfair, however, for our district to continue to bear the brunt of the traffic and danger generated by our city's corrections system. The only way to reach Riker's is by crossing the Riker's Island Bridge, which empties onto the corner of 19th and Hazen in Astoria. Every day, thousands of cars and corrections buses trek through my district, causing congestion in many neighborhoods. The high car and bus volume also contributes to air pollution, already a problem in Western Queens.

Although we have a vested local interest in this issue, new jails would also greatly benefit the entire city. Riker's is notoriously difficult to reach, making it difficult for lawyers, legal advocates and family members to meet with prisoners. By opening jails in Brooklyn and The Bronx, the city would allow easier access to prisoners, facilitate a more efficient court system and save millions in tax dollars on transportation. Groups like Legal Aid, the Women's Prison Association and the Fortune Society have already voiced their own support for new facilities, calling Riker's Island a "nightmare".

In addition, the facilities on Riker's are outdated if not dangerous. Many of the buildings that comprise the 10-jail "city" on Riker's are badly in need of repair (which would cost more than the proposed state of the art facilities). Commissioner [Martin] Horn has stated that they have long outlived their usefulness, and he has promised to bulldoze at least two of them, once the prisoners are transferred elsewhere. Why should we keep outdated facilities that cost the city money and could possibly endanger the lives of both prisoners and citizens?

I hope that you take these considerations into account and move forward with the Department of Corrections plan to diversify our incarceration system. Thank you very much, I look forward to hearing from you. Very truly yours,
Peter F. Vallone Jr.
Chair, Public Safety Committee
New York City Council
Service Of NY, Inc.