Queens Gazette

Plans To Relocate Prison Barge Runs Aground





Vallone said he is relieved the city has decided to leave the barge, the 870-bed Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center, docked in Hunts Point in The Bronx.

Vallone said he is relieved the city has decided to leave the barge, the 870-bed Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center, docked in Hunts Point in The Bronx.

A group of Astoria homeowners are breathing a sigh of relief over the city’s decision to halt plans for another prison barge at Rikers Island.

Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. last week announced he had succeeded in negotiations with the city Department of Corrections (DOC), which had planned to dock the barge at Rikers to avert overcrowding at the island prison.

Vallone said he is relieved the city has decided to leave the barge, the 870-bed Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center, docked in Hunts Point in The Bronx.

President of the United Community Civic Association (UCCA) Rose Marie Poveromo, said her members are thrilled with the decision to keep the barge docked in The Bronx. The UCCA represents homeowners and residents in Astoria Heights, the community that sits at the doorstep to the Rikers Island Bridge.

“We were not pleased when we learned the city was planning to dock another prison barge in our backyard,” Poveromo said.

The group vehemently protested back in 1988-89 when the city docked another prison barge at Rikers, to ease overcrowding brought on by a police crackdown on illegal drug trade. The barge was removed when prefabricated housing units were installed at Rikers to accommodate the burgeoning prison population.

Poveromo said her group brought the barge and another hot-button issue to the table at their 2010 Legislative Breakfast when they confronted DOC Commissioner Dora Schriro about their concerns.

UCCA told Schriro they were troubled that the city was considering the move that would bring additional prisoners closer to their community, Poveromo said.

“We also asked the commissioner how DOC was planning to remove debris and materials from Rikers while the facility is undergoing demolition and reconstruction,” Poveromo said. “We made a special request that any kind of debris or construction materials not be transported through our community.”

The Astoria activist said she is grateful for the efforts by her members and local lawmakers who helped convince DOC to keep the barge docked in The Bronx, the borough that incorporates Rikers Island.

Vallone said he battled DOC to withdraw the plan because he believed it would further strain Northwest Queens, which already bears too many of the city’s burdens, such as the six power plants located in Astoria, a sewage treatment plant, LaGuardia Airport and the only land access to Rikers Island.

“As president of the United Community Civic Association, living in the community that has been under assault for more years than I care to remember, we welcome any positive changes to Rikers Island and certainly don’t need prisoners floating on the water, we have enough on land.” Poveromo said.


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