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Lincoln Restler criticizes the mayoral administration's decision to halt reentry programs for former inmates when the council offered to pay for it

3:41:52

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74 sec

Lincoln Restler criticizes the mayoral administration's decision to halt reentry programs for former inmates, emphasizing its detrimental aftermath.

Restler highlights that the council offered funding for reentry programming, which was declined by the mayor's team.
The cessation of these programs led to a significant reduction in the number of individuals accessing reentry services.
It is noted that a 2-year gap in service availability will adversely affect those returning to communities from incarceration.
Restler characterizes the administration's actions as a failure and a travesty to those in need of reentry support.

Lincoln Restler

3:41:52

Last comment I'll make is just that the council offered to pay for the reentry programming this year.

3:41:59

Last year, deputy commissioner Torres testified that it was uniquely only a budgetary decision that you all chose to eliminate this renter programming.

3:42:06

We offered to pay for it.

3:42:09

The mayor and his and your team said no.

3:42:11

You didn't want the Isengears and wipers.

3:42:13

As a result from June 2023 to from June 2022 to July 22 to July 2022, From that, when the fiscal year shifted, we saw half as many people access reentry programming and services like this.

3:42:30

As soon as you eliminated that programming.

3:42:31

While we appreciate it coming back, the 10 to 15 month timeline that your first deputy commissioner testified to today means that we're gonna have about a 2 year period.

3:42:39

2 year total period that people don't have access to the reentry services that they need.

3:42:43

That is an absolute disaster.

3:42:46

It is a failure to the people who are on Rutgers Island, who are gonna be coming back into our communities who don't get the support that they need to do better when they're home.

3:42:53

And I really just am we should not You've done the right thing by putting the money in now.

3:42:59

It should never have ever happened, and that is a travesty.

3:43:03

So I just have to say that on the record.

3:43:05

Thank you, chair nurse.

3:43:05

I appreciate the time.

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