citymeetings.nyc

Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.

Q&A

Alternative facilities and cost considerations for borough-based jails

3:19:16

·

122 sec

Video Player is loading.

Current TimeÂ 0:00

DurationÂ 0:00

Loaded: 0%

Stream TypeÂ LIVE

Remaining TimeÂ 0:00

Â

Council Member Marte inquires about potential alternative facilities and cost-saving measures for the borough-based jail plan. Deputy Commissioner Conroy discusses staffing challenges and the DOC's limited role in facility planning and budgeting.

Marte suggests considering the empty MCC facility on Park Row
Conroy explains staffing challenges associated with opening new facilities
Discussion of the rising costs of the Chinatown facility, from under $2 billion to over $4 billion
Conroy clarifies that budgetary decisions are not within DOC's jurisdiction

James Conroy

3:19:43

No.

3:19:43

The answer to that question specifically is no.

3:19:45

But one thing I'd like to keep in mind as we have these discussions about alternatives is our continued, again, the census versus what our workforce is.

3:19:56

We have a struggle.

3:19:57

We have to make sure that the posts demand and every time we would contemplate opening up facility, it's not just for the immediate posts that are in the, you know, what ought to be the cell areas.

3:20:08

You know, you have administration, you have transports, you have programs.

3:20:11

So every time you contemplate that, the metric for staffing kind of goes exponentially along with that.

3:20:19

You know, it's contemplated in the plans for for BBJs, but, you know, these contingencies of what we're managing now, maybe not so much.

3:20:57

Yeah.

3:20:58

Think respectfully, councilmember, that's not a question for the Department of Correction.

3:21:02

That really is a, you know, more citywide budgetary, you know, what the costs and and, you know, the Department of Construction, you know, all those different agencies that are involved in this project.

3:21:13

You know, we don't buy this deal for the project.

3:21:15

You know, we're we're managing the jail.

Christopher Marte

3:19:16

Have there been conversations with DOC, Mok J, and the administration on looking at other facilities?

3:19:23

We have an empty decommissioned MCC facility on Park Row.

3:19:27

Have you thought of especially for cost saving measures to shorten the timeline to look at these other facilities, whether it's interim or permanent basis?

3:20:27

And it's great that you brought up cost because when the borough based jail plan was approved, the Chinatown facility was under $2,000,000,000 Right now, it's north of $4,000,000,000 Is there a ceiling?

3:20:40

Are we going to continue to let it go up, especially when OMB director yesterday said that the price of steel is going to increase the construction of every city project.

3:20:51

When do we start thinking about contingency plans or how to deal with the situation at hand?

← Previous Chapter

Contingency plans for Rikers Island closure

Next Chapter →

Inquiry about waiver for capital projects under Directive 10