Cuomo Reverses Stance on Rikers Island Closure
Andrew Cuomo, an independent candidate for mayor, announced on Wednesday that if he wins in November, he plans to reverse his earlier decision to close Rikers Island prison, which has sparked controversy over the years.
Having previously advocated for its closure when he was governor, Cuomo shared his thoughts during a Crain’s New York business breakfast. He expressed a desire to shut down the Rikers facility by 2027 and ditch plans to replace it with four new prisons across the boroughs.
“Let’s start big by blocking the construction of a new prison to replace Rikers Island, a huge failure,” he told the business community.
“The writing is on the wall. It promises to be a huge rift in New York City. It’s already years late, billions of dollars over budget, and outdated,” he added. The estimated cost of building the replacement prisons has surged from $8 billion to $16 billion recently.
Previously considered sites for the new jails included Kew Gardens in Queens and downtown areas in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Instead, Cuomo suggested these areas be repurposed for affordable housing.
He proposed that instead of moving forward with the new prisons, they should build a state-of-the-art facility on Rikers Island itself, along with free bus service and large-scale housing projects on vacant lots nearby.
Cuomo believes this approach could unlock significant potential while avoiding additional delays and wasting government resources.
Meanwhile, the Independent Rikers Commission still advocates for the quick closure of the facility. Its chairman, Jonathan Lippman, a former chief justice of New York, criticized the Rikers reconstruction as financially flawed and inconsistent with modern standards.
Supporters of the Rikers closure view Cuomo’s new position as a desperate move aimed at securing reelection, given that he’s lagging behind Democratic candidate Zoran Mamdani in polls.
A spokesperson for City Council President Adrian Adams dismissed Cuomo’s plan as a political maneuver lacking factual support, arguing it would lead to higher costs and increased danger for residents.
Conditions at Rikers have drawn severe criticism, with reports of inmate deaths and systemic issues prompting a federal judge to take control of the situation.
Rival candidate Mamdani has been vocal about his support for closing Rikers, emphasizing it’s a mark of shame for the city. He pointed out that New Yorkers don’t want a mayor who plans to keep it open.
Interestingly, Mamdani, a member of the state parliament, has also adjusted his previously strong stance against prison expansions, stating that the progressive leadership in the city often stops short of real reform.
Republican contender Curtis Sliwa criticized Cuomo, characterizing his shift as a political gambit. “New Yorkers are focused on Mr. Cuomo, who is so desperate for personal redemption that he says whatever is convenient,” he remarked, suggesting that Cuomo prioritizes his own interests over the city’s needs.
“Andrew Cuomo is putting Andrew Cuomo first,” Sliwa concluded, contrasting his consistency with Cuomo’s perceived chaos.
