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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Darren Mack, Co-Director of Freedom Agenda, on NYC Budget and Rikers Island
9:23:26
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Darren Mack, Co-Director of Freedom Agenda, testifies against Mayor Adams' proposed budget cuts to alternatives to incarceration (ATI) and reentry programs while increasing funding for correction officers. He argues that this approach contradicts evidence-based practices and the preferences of crime survivors.
- Mack criticizes the proposal to cut $11.8 million from ATI and reentry programs while allocating $150 million to hire 1,100 more correction officers.
- He cites a survey showing that 75% of NYC crime survivors prefer alternatives to incarceration and mental health treatment over jail.
- Mack calls on the City Council to restore and increase funds for ATI and reentry programs to facilitate the closure of Rikers Island.
Darren Mack
9:23:26
Thank you, chair Salaam, for the opportunity to testify today.
9:23:29
My name is Darren Mack.
9:23:30
I'm a co director of Freedom Agenda, and we're one of the organizations leading the campaign to close Rikers.
9:23:36
Our members have both experienced Rikers and and been impacted by crime, and they know what works to create real public safety.
9:23:43
It's things like housing, health care, work opportunities, mentorship, and safe community spaces.
9:23:49
While mayor Adams has said he wants to close the pipeline to feed Rikers, his proposed budget would do the opposite.
9:23:56
The mayor's budget proposes 11,800,000.0 in cuts to the office of criminal justice for alternatives to incarceration and reentry programs, while allocating 150,000,000 to hire 1,100 more correction officers.
9:24:12
The mayor's proposed cuts to alternatives to incarceration and reentry programs are clearly not an economic necessity.
9:24:20
If our city were truly facing budget constraints, the mayor would not plan to spend nearly 150,000,000 to hire 1,100 more correction officers this year when DOC already has about four times more officers per person in custody than the average US jail system.
9:24:38
The proposed cuts also ignore the wishes of crime survivors.
9:24:41
A recent survey of crime survivors in New York City showed that three of four prefer alternatives to incarceration and mental health treatment instead of jail.
9:24:50
The proposed cuts are also not in line with evidence based practices given the documented successes of ATI's and reentry programs compared with research that shows that people detained at Rikers are more likely to be rearrested than those who were not.
9:25:05
So why would the mayor propose a budget like this?
9:25:07
It could be a lack of vision or it could be a giveaway to a corrupt union that has supported him but isn't for the benefit of New Yorkers.
9:25:16
We're calling on the city council to ensure that the adopted budget paves the way for New York City to deliver on the legal and moral obligation to close Rikers Island, including restoring and increasing funds for ATI's and reentry programs.
9:25:32
We will submit along with this testimony for full budget analysis that outlines the amendments needed in fiscal year twenty six budget to pave the way to closing Rikers and passing a people's budget.
9:25:44
Thank you.