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Concerns over delays in NCB and Woodhull facilities design and construction
2:38:10
ยท
3 min
Council Member Restler expresses frustration over delays in finalizing designs for NCB and Woodhull facilities, questioning DOC's cooperation in moving these projects forward. The discussion reveals ongoing challenges in coordinating between different agencies and meeting project timelines.
- DOC officials deny lack of cooperation, stating they are working with CHS and H+H to finalize designs
- Restler cites previous delays and lack of progress in the first two years of the Adams administration
- Concerns raised about potentially missing the 2027 opening deadline for these facilities
- The debate highlights differing perspectives on the causes of delays and the urgency of providing improved healthcare facilities for detainees
Lincoln Restler
2:38:10
Okay.
2:38:11
Next up is, relatedly, NCB and Woodhull.
2:38:15
My understanding is that there's been a lack of cooperation from the Department of Correction to finalize the design for these two facilities.
2:38:24
When will design be completed for NCB and Woodhall?
Alex Maldonado
2:38:27
That is absolutely incorrect.
2:38:29
We have a dedicated team working with CHS and Health and Hospital as well as their their design and architectural teams to finalize the designs for both Woodhall and North Central Bronx.
2:38:39
These these facilities were initially designed as health care facilities.
2:38:43
We have had to make significant changes to the design to improve the safety and security of of of the of the facility and improve what we see as insufficiencies in the original design.
Lincoln Restler
2:38:53
Despite these projects being fully funded from the start of the Adams administration, there had been no progress whatsoever to move these facilities forward for the first two and a half years of the administration.
2:39:02
Thanks to leadership of Deputy Mayor Williams Isom and others, that changed last year.
2:39:05
An announcement was made that these facilities would open in 2027.
2:39:09
But as a result of DOC's lack of cooperation to finalize the design for these facilities, we are rapidly moving toward missing that deadline.
2:39:16
Do you expect that these facilities will still open in 2027?
Alex Maldonado
2:39:18
I think that's an unfair characterization.
2:39:20
My team is working diligently with CHS and H and H to finalize these designs.
Lincoln Restler
2:39:24
Then give us a timeline.
2:39:25
When will design be completed?
Alex Maldonado
2:39:26
CHS vanishes the timeline for these facilities.
Lincoln Restler
2:39:28
So CHS testified yesterday that they're eager to move much more quickly.
2:39:32
So they're ready to go.
2:39:34
They are saying that they are facing delays because they cannot finalize the security design for these facilities.
2:39:39
When do you expect to have a completed design for this facility?
2:39:41
When will when will we be done?
Alex Maldonado
2:39:43
We are reviewing internally right now and we anticipate submitting those designs to the state commission for their review.
2:39:49
Those documents need to be approved by the state commission of correction before construction efforts can commence.
Lincoln Restler
2:39:55
I I want to be very clear that the Department of Correction has been uncooperative in moving these outposted therapeutic units forward.
2:40:03
350 people who are in the most dire health care who are facing the most dire health care needs on Rikers Island should not be there.
2:40:10
They should be in hospital settings getting access to the care that they need.
2:40:15
DOC's lack of cooperation has delayed the opening of each and every one of these facilities and it is going to lead to more death as a result.
Alex Maldonado
2:40:22
Sir, we
Lincoln Restler
2:40:24
completely disappointed by the lack of cooperation and coordination by you and your team and the agency as a whole, and it has to change.
2:40:31
So you're providing no substantive information about when we're going to have actual progress to get these sites open.
2:40:37
And my understanding from everybody I talk to is the DOC remains the impediment and the obstacle to every single piece moving forward.
2:40:43
And I'm deeply frustrated by it.
2:40:45
These are fully funded facilities that are I helped for when I worked in the previous administration to make sure that people who are incarcerated get the care that they need and deserve, and DOC's lack of cooperation has stopped that from moving forward.
2:40:57
It is absolutely unacceptable.
Alex Maldonado
2:40:59
Again, I I disagree with your characterization.
2:41:01
We have been fully compliant and cooperative as of late and under the leadership of commissioner McGinley Litty.
2:41:07
And my team is working tirelessly on both
Lynelle Maginley-Liddie
2:41:09
the outpost units and the
Alex Maldonado
2:41:10
borough based jails.
2:41:10
And I will say that we 100% support this model and we we are working as as much as we
Lincoln Restler
2:41:16
can operate appreciate you saying that, but the the results show a different story.