GOV: I RULE ON RIKERS FIXES
Says she’s done more than any other pol
Gov. Hochul declared Thursday that she’s the elected official “who’s done the most” to address the dire conditions facing inmates and staff at Rikers Island as Mayor de Blasio continues to take flack about his inability to fix problems at the island’s troubled jails.
Hochul, who was reeled into the jail’s woes after de Blasio called for her help weeks ago, made the boast as she responded to reporters’ questions Thursday about demands from state Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris and other lawmakers that she order the release of more Rikers prisoners.
“I will be looking forward to responding to the deputy majority leader’s letter,” Hochul said. “It was signed by, I believe, 38 individuals, and every one of them knows that I have done more — I am the elected official who’s done the most to assist this situation at Rikers. Because it is a tinder box.”
The letter from Gianaris and the other lawmakers doesn’t just call for Hochul to act more decisively when it comes to Rikers. It potentially serves as a means to draw attention away from de Blasio, who’s more politically aligned with most of the legislators than Hochul.
The jail complex on Rikers Island is overseen by the city’s Department of Correction, which is overseen by de Blasio.
Besides seeking Hochul’s help, Hizzoner has also called on state judges to sentence more convicted criminals to supervise release programs instead of jail time, and has blamed the correction officers union for engaging in a work slow down, which it has denied.
Two weeks ago, Hochul issued an executive order that led to the release of about 200 inmates from the overcrowded jail complex, and she signed into law the Less is More Act, which doesn’t go into effect until next year and will allow for the release of prisoners being held on minor parole violations.
But Gianaris and the other legislators are demanding she do more by “immediately” releasing an additional 164 inmates who, they claim, are being held on technical parole violations.
In their letter, the legislators contend that while the Less is More Act doesn’t fully take effect until March 1, provisions in it governing technical parole violations went into effect Sept. 1, which they argue means Hochul has the ability to release 164 additional prisoners.
“We, therefore, urge you to lift all 164 technical parole violation warrants immediately,” they wrote. “We appreciate the actions you have taken up to now, but more needs to be done immediately to alleviate this extraordinary crisis and to save lives.”
Since December, 11 detainees have died at Rikers.
Hochul appeared to disagree on the finer points of Gianaris’ letter, and suggested the law would have to be amended, or a new one passed, to accomplish the goals it sets out. She said lawmakers would have to return to Albany to amend the timing of the law if they want to see immediate action.
“If they want to change the effective date beyond what they passed this past spring — they want to come back to Albany — let’s have that conversation. I’ll sign it if they want to make it earlier,” she said.
“I did release everybody who is eligible to be released under that law already, and that’s why we had over 200 people released on day one – 201 people. I did act as if it were in effect already.”
To drive home her point about leading the way on Rikers, Hochul ticked off several policies she’s announced in recent weeks — which besides the Less is More law and the release of inmates, include a move to hold more remote court hearings to alleviate staffing burdens and the transfers of about 40 prisoners daily from Rikers to state prisons.
“The state of affairs in Rikers right now is in crisis,” she said. “And when crises occur, the state needs to assist, even if it’s technically a city facility. I get that. I know it’s the responsibility of the city — always has been, always will be — but if I can just bring resources to the table or help with some of the solutions, we’ll get there.”