Under Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration, Closing Rikers is the cornerstone of a safer, fairer, and more dignified city.
Last week, the Independent Rikers Commission launched a new short video series titled So Many Reasons To Close Rikers, produced in partnership with Echoes of Incarceration.
The first three videos echo many of the administration’s motivations and explain why a better future begins with four Borough-Based Jails (BBJs):
Humanity Meets Safety
Public safety and human dignity aren’t at odds. Aging, isolated jails compound trauma rather than reducing crime. Closing Rikers puts health, accountability, and rehabilitation first.
Root-Cause Prevention
Real safety comes from addressing why people enter the justice system in the first place. By expanding supportive housing, mental health resources, and therapeutic care, our city can treat health needs directly and drive down rearrest rates.
Community Benefits
New Yorkers will also benefit when the city shrinks its jail footprint — and repurposes that land for green energy and other community projects. When New York City closes the Rikers jail, it we’ll be replacing it with investment in our neighborhoods.
WATCH THE VIDEOS HERE: