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Q&A
Council Member Salamanca discusses borough-based jails and community concerns with Dr. Stossel
0:22:47
·
4 min
Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr. engages in a Q&A session with Dr. Lauren Stossel about her potential role in the new borough-based jail system and addresses community concerns. They discuss the challenges of implementing new jail facilities, oversight of juvenile detention centers, and the importance of community engagement.
- Salamanca expresses concerns about the new borough-based jail in his district and its impact on the community
- Dr. Stossel outlines her potential involvement in planning and community outreach for the new jail
- The conversation touches on oversight of juvenile detention centers and the need for ongoing communication with the community
Rafael Salamanca, Jr.
0:22:47
Good morning.
0:22:48
How are you?
Dr. Lauren Stossel
0:22:49
Good morning.
Rafael Salamanca, Jr.
0:22:49
So welcome, and congratulations on the nomination.
0:22:54
Thank you.
0:22:54
So I represent the South Bronx.
0:22:56
There is a borough based jail that is coming to my to well, it's not my district.
0:23:02
It's the border of my district.
0:23:03
It's in council member Ayala's district.
0:23:06
The what role do you see yourself playing in this borough based jail given the fact that, I don't don't see it being completed in 2027 or 2028?
Dr. Lauren Stossel
0:23:19
I think it would be great to be able to be involved in the planning, to be able to do walk throughs of the footprint, to be able to speak with DOC leadership about what the plans are for both the physical plant and then also the programming that's going to be offered there to meet with individuals from DOC leadership who are going to be in charge of that facility.
0:23:43
And I would also be interested in speaking with, you know, community stakeholders in the area about what kinds of things they're concerned about about a jail, you know, coming to their neighborhood.
Rafael Salamanca, Jr.
0:23:52
Alright.
0:23:52
Well, it's challenging because the community doesn't want That that's that's for sure.
0:23:57
But it was something that is they're they're they're getting against their will.
0:24:01
And it's unfortunate because directly across the street from that borough based jail, the administration put in a 22 men 2,200 men migrant shelter there.
0:24:13
So it's a very hot topic in that immediate area.
0:24:15
Does your position have oversight over the juvenile detention centers as well?
Dr. Lauren Stossel
0:24:23
I don't know the answer to that.
Rafael Salamanca, Jr.
0:24:24
Chair, do we know that?
Keith Powers
0:24:26
Does the DOC have yes.
0:24:27
They do.
0:24:28
The two the two juvenile facilities?
0:24:29
They do.
0:24:30
Yes.
Rafael Salamanca, Jr.
0:24:30
Alright.
0:24:31
So I have a juvenile detention center in my district called Horizons Detention Center.
0:24:35
Once I'm I'm pretty sure you're you're you're gonna be okay, you will get appointed.
0:24:40
I would love to have a conversation or even may have a walk through with you because we are having issues at the Horizon detention center in in in the South Bronx.
0:24:48
And and this is a concern.
0:24:49
And it's all in the same community board.
0:24:51
Community board one.
0:24:52
So they are, they have reasons why they're upset with all these services coming in with the opioid, the opioid issue, that they have.
0:25:01
And on top of that, they are one of the, community boards with the most homeless shelters in the entire city of New York.
0:25:08
Finally, I'll leave you with this.
0:25:10
There was a a floating jail in my council district, called the bars, the Vernice Bain Center.
0:25:16
And I'm happy that administration decommissioned it, and we're going to give that land back to the community.
0:25:24
But ultimately, I think that, you know, what the concerns that we have here is, you know, closing down Rikers is a priority for us.
0:25:31
What we're gonna do with that land, it's something that, you know, I guess is a land use matter issue and we have to move forward with that.
0:25:38
But I think that as commissioner, it's important that the commission constantly have communications after the jail is built, I would say the first five to ten years to settle the community, because there's an anger.
0:25:52
There's a fear that crime is gonna increase.
0:25:54
I don't think crime is gonna increase.
0:25:56
I think crime is gonna decrease having that facility there.
0:25:59
But the reality is is that that community for years has been dumped on and having this facility being brought into that community and yet not real infrastructure being brought in is a major issue.
0:26:10
And it's just something that I think you should have in mind as you assume this position.
Dr. Lauren Stossel
0:26:14
Yeah.
0:26:15
I appreciate you explaining that.
0:26:16
And I think, you know, feeling dumped on I think is certainly something that folks at Rikers talk about a lot also and that's a terrible feeling, you know, to feel that you don't have agency and the ability to sort of control your environment.
0:26:32
And so I certainly can empathize with that.
0:26:34
And I think speaking with communities about, you know, what is it about having this facility here that makes you feel scared or makes you feel concerned about increasing crime rates?
0:26:44
I think certainly the goal for everyone is to make the city safer.
0:26:47
So I'd be happy to speak with you more about it.