Rikers ‘baily’hoo
Welcome wagon for sprung jailbirds
Not only is the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights foundation indiscriminately bailing out jailbirds — including many facing charges of violence — they’ve set up a welcome wagon in Queens decked out with banners, party balloons and sheet cake fit for a birthday party.
The advocacy group plopped an air-conditioned shipping container, complete with port-a-potty and gas-powered generator, between two “No Standing” signs on 19th Avenue off Hazen Street in Queens, near where the bus from Rikers Island makes its first stop, to serve as a welcome center for the freshly freed.
But the makeshift House of No Detention, which is draped in banners that read “Mass Bail Out” and “Welcome Home,” has something in common with the place they just left: barred windows.
On Monday, RFK volunteers lined the sidewalk with balloons and yellow chrysanthemums.
A welcome mat was spotted inside the pod, where they also hand out snacks, MetroCards and cellphones to former inmates.
But the setup has no permits to be parked in the no-standing zone, according to Transportation Department officials.
A volunteer at the center claimed the group has permits, but declined to elaborate.
Seeing photos of the arrangement, a police source groused: “I’m all for bail reform. But they’re just going on a rampage and letting anyone out.
“That’s like, ‘We’re going to bail you out. We’re going to feed you and go out there and commit some more crimes. We got your back,’ ” the source said.
The foundation plans to spend $5 million bailing out hundreds of women, as well as 16- and 17-yearold boys and girls, despite their charges or criminal histories — a move that the mayor, police com- missioner and all five city district attorneys have said is a bad idea.
Among those sprung so far are an ex-con who did 2¹/2 years in prison for assault, a woman charged seven times with prostitution and a teen who allegedly choked a cabby and robbed him at knifepoint.
The charity cut the ribbon on the center Saturday, according to tweets by Borough President Melinda Katz.
“#Queens believes poverty is not a crime and wealth-based pretrial detention is morally wrong,” Katz wrote. “The #MassBailOut, with a focus on bailing out women and children, is about strengthening communities, and builds upon years of collective work by so many to end mass incarceration.
“Proud that #Queens, the borough closest to #Rikers, can host it and build community support around it.”
Neither the foundation nor Katz’s office responded to inquiries by The Post.