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Explanation of cell door replacement progress and ongoing challenges
3:34:00
ยท
3 min
First Deputy Commissioner Francis Torres provides a detailed explanation of the cell door replacement project's progress, challenges, and the need for continued funding. The explanation covers the project's history, current status, and future plans.
- The project began in 2019 but faced delays due to COVID-19
- New doors have been installed in various facilities, including RNDC, Rosem Singer, OBCC, and GRVC
- Ongoing installations are taking place at GRVC, enhanced supervision areas, and NIC
- The continued funding is necessary to address additional needs across the department
- The new doors have proven effective in improving safety for both staff and incarcerated individuals
Francis Torres
3:34:00
If if I if I may, council member Stevens.
3:34:03
When we look at the budget for cell doors, there have always been different type of cell doors that we've had to replace.
3:34:14
When we speak about the current doors that deputy commissioner Dougherty is referencing, I'll give you a very specific example.
3:34:22
In 2019, we went and purchased the model that he's speaking about.
3:34:27
Due to COVID, we couldn't complete the installation the way we decided and had mapped out.
3:34:34
It is an installation that we did at RNDC and that we completed in 2023.
3:34:40
When we go into learning from having purchased and invested in this new type of door and knowing the success and how safe our persons in custody as well as staff remain because the motors, there's no motor to be manipulated.
3:35:00
We have indeed gone and used those same doors to actually be used to replace existing doors in very specific buildings at enhanced supervision housing within Rosem Singer, presently at OBCC, one specific housing area, as well as GRVC 15 A.
3:35:25
So when we take a look at where we are with this continued purchasing of doors, is because we are now looking at the larger department and where we have additional needs.
3:35:41
Presently, our facility maintenance team, which is led by DC Dougherty, is working to install a 22 additional of those doors.
3:35:54
They are working at GRVC.
3:35:56
They're also working at enhanced supervision as well as NIC.
3:36:02
But if I may go back to the statement that was made by council member Marte, when we look at the infrastructure and when we look at where our facilities are and when we look at the estimated movement out of Rikers Island and whether we can and cannot move, the main question is how do we continue to keep our staff members and those assigned to our care safe in order to continue to reduce violence?
3:36:36
And these doors have proven that they actually are able to sustain any of those challenges that we faced in the past.
3:36:45
Thank you, ma'am.
Althea Stevens
3:36:46
That was a lot.
3:36:47
But so sorry.
3:36:50
Because I have like so many questions in between and so like because like, remember, I'm not the chair.
3:36:55
So some of this stuff is going over my head and it goes over my head because of a lot of words.
3:36:58
And so my question is, were you said you got doors in 2019, but the project wasn't finished for COVID.
3:37:04
And so the money that's being allocated year after year is to complete that project?
3:37:09
Or are these new doors?
Francis Torres
3:37:11
So we've completed these projects.
3:37:13
The new funding is to continue to target all of these other areas that we have not been able.
Althea Stevens
3:37:23
So these are areas that have not gotten the new doors.
3:37:26
And so these year over year, you're expanding the project to complete
Dalvanie Powell
3:37:30
That's correct.
Althea Stevens
3:37:30
For the new doors.
3:37:32
You know you could have said that in less words, right?
Francis Torres
3:37:34
Well well well Council Member Stevens, come
Althea Stevens
3:37:36
on now.
3:37:36
You lost me.
Francis Torres
3:37:37
I'm like No.
3:37:38
No.
3:37:38
Let let me bring you back.
3:37:39
No.
3:37:40
I got it.
Althea Stevens
3:37:40
We're back?
3:37:41
No.
3:37:41
I got I got it.
3:37:42
You are finishing the project.
3:37:43
You did not complete all the doors.
3:37:45
I don't, you could have just said that, we didn't complete the doors and so we needed the funding to complete the rest of the doors.
Francis Torres
3:37:50
There is always that debate on how much information we should share.