HOD Re-Opens for Business
Yesterday, the Brooklyn House of Detention in Boerum Hill was once again processing perps, after a five-year hiatus courtesy of the Bloomberg administration, since they no longer needed extra beds for Rikers prisoners. True, crime is up in some areas, so maybe that’s why the administration has shifted, now lobbying for the construction a $450…
Yesterday, the Brooklyn House of Detention in Boerum Hill was once again processing perps, after a five-year hiatus courtesy of the Bloomberg administration, since they no longer needed extra beds for Rikers prisoners. True, crime is up in some areas, so maybe that’s why the administration has shifted, now lobbying for the construction a $450 million tower on top of building, on the corner of Atlantic and Smith (the NY Daily News says the reason is the renovation of the Brooklyn courthouse, slated to start in January). This will allow them to double its capacity, to 1,500 prisoners (some cells will be reduced at Rikers Island). Local politicians didn’t hesitate to condemn the move. Councilman David Yassky and state Senator-elect Daniel Squadron were among those calling it a “first step in a backdoor attempt to spend hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on a large new jail and radically shift city corrections policy to favor incarceration over rehabilitation for prisoners.”
Critics Howl as Jail Reopens Cells [NY Daily News] GMAP
Sam and THAL,
What I said in my post oviously made sense and you had no other way to counter than to resort to name calling.
I am far from “Just mean spirited” nor did I express any such sentiments in my post. The jail should now remain closed because the neighborhood has changed? Are You kidding? Why tear down a perfectly good building just to construct a new one elsewhere. Get a grip. Most of the older residents of this area do not mind the jail being here as they know that it didn’t really affect them. If you bought property near the jail recently hoping that it would never reopen and you get “screwed,” then you gambled wrong. Your getting screwed would have less to do with the jail than with speculating in a turbulent market. The politicians of course will speak out against the jail reopening because they want your vote but sorry to say that they are just paying you lip service.
When you make a logical argument not having to do with property values for this jail not to remain open maybe then someone will listen.
Heather hon:
you have to say what you mean in blogs, subtle irony does not usually telegraph meaning properly. Just say it. don’t beat around the bush.
Sam, you’re slow. I’m just funny.
They should put this prison in Brownsville or Bed Stuy where these people come from anyway. They can reduce carbon footprint by putting it in their hoods of criminals so the multiple baby mamas don’t have to drive here. Oy Vey!
Heather:
Sorry you’re an idiot.
Think of how much they will be reducing their carbon footprint by not transporting these people back and forth in busses all the time!! Geez, I thought you people were Brooklynites who cared about the environment!
Just Wondering should change his name to Just Mean-spirited because he seems to be taking pleasure in the fact that nearby resident may get screwed if the HOD upsizes.
My point is that everyone’s interests should and can be balanced. First, tear down the hideous monstrosity. Then partner with a developer to build a small HOD/Holding Facility facing Downtown and a residential/retail building facing Atlantic. It could work. There is a similar complex in Manhattan. Why not try to achieve an execellent solution here? I don’t live in the area but I am sympathetic to those who do.
Just Wondering –
WOW you solved everything. Its so simple. JACKASS…
This place should be torn down. Why not put it in Red Hook or the Navy Yard???? The area has changed so much it should not be there anymore.
There are approx 10,000 inmates being held by the NYCDOC on any given day on Rikers Island. The jails on Rikers Island are not overcrowded but in need of repair. More than 1500 inmates are transported to and from court everyday because the vast majority are pre-trial detainees. The vast majority of the inmate population comes from Brooklyn since Brooklyn is the most populus borough. It is makes sense that this jail should be reopened. Although many of the inmates housed in the Brookln House will still have to be transported by bus to the new court building on Jay Street it is obviously more cost efficient to get them there from Atlantic Avenue than Rikers Island. Besides many of them still have court appearances in the Criminal Court building where they are walked over there via an underground tunnel to the Criminal Court building. This is better for everyone from the inmate’s families, lawyers, judges, etc…
Maybe not for the people who purchased million dollar condo’s accross the street from a viable jail though.