ADAMS: NO FEDS RUNNING JAILS
Says if they monitor Rikers, other agencies like sanit, schools may follow
Mayor Adams doubled down Thursday in his opposition to putting Rikers Island under the control of federal receiver, arguing that accepting such oversight would open the door to federal control of city services like education and sanitation.
Reform advocates have embraced the idea of Rikers receivership, and say it would provide broader powers to reform a city jail system marred by dysfunction and violence for decades.
Adams contended that a takeover would send the wrong message about city government’s capabilities and could open the door to federal takeovers in other areas.
“You know what it says? It says we can’t do our job. That’s what it says,” Adams said in response to a question from the Daily News.
“What’s next? Do they take over our school system? Do they take over our Department of Sanitation? Do they take over probation? What’s next?” the mayor asked.
“We are responsible to take taxpayers’ dollars and provide goods and services to the city,” said Adams. “And when you start stating that your city can’t do its job, that’s an indictment of the over 300,000 city employees and also the employees at Rikers. And I’m not surrendering this city to anyone who believes we can’t do our job.”
Since Adams became mayor in January, five Correction Department detainees have died in custody.
On Tuesday, a Bronx Supreme Court judge ruled the city in contempt for failing to ensure detainees were taken to medical appointments. And since the pandemic began more than two years ago, the city has struggled to staff the jail, with an inordinate number of correction officers calling in sick — some with little or no justification.
The feds threatened to seek receivership in April. The idea has gained traction among advocates and criminal justice experts who contend it’s the only feasible path forward and would give the city more flexibility when it comes to hiring and firing Correction Department employees.
Many advocates of a federal takeover met Thursday for a forum on the issue. That group includes Zachary Carter, the city’s former corporation counsel; Liz Glazer, former head of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice; and Vincent Schiraldi, a former head of the city Correction Department.
When asked Thursday if his stance against receivership was merely on principle, given the potential political benefits of sharing the responsibility with the feds, Adams said it is not.
“All I say: give us a chance,” he said. “Hold us accountable, but give us a chance to turn around a dysfunctional system that has been dysfunctional for as long as I can remember.”