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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Michael Higgins, Jr., Land Use Planner at New York City Environmental Justice Alliance
3:32:00
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128 sec
Michael Higgins, Jr. from the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance (NYEJA) testifies in support of funding for a master plan study for Renewable Rikers in the FY 2026 budget. He emphasizes the importance of repurposing Rikers Island for environmental initiatives and reducing burdens on environmental justice communities.
- NYEJA is part of the Renewable Rikers Coalition, which aims to transform Rikers Island after the closure of its carceral facilities
- Higgins expresses concern about the Adams administration's lack of progress on the 2027 closure deadline and future plans for the island
- He supports Intro 1038, which would mandate DEP to conduct planning for Rikers Island redevelopment
Michael Higgins, Jr.
3:32:00
Good afternoon.
3:32:02
Again, my name is Michael Higgins, Jr.
3:32:03
I'm the land use planner at New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, also known as Nija.
3:32:07
I'll keep it short.
3:32:09
It's been a long day for you, Chair Ressler, and thank you again for hosting this space.
3:32:13
Nija is a founding member of the Renewable Rikers Coalition, a member to advance a green and restorative vision for renewable Rikers and the environmental justice communities around it that coalesced after the announcement of the closure of the carceral facilities on the island during the Oblazio administration.
3:32:29
Since then, the New York City Council has passed the renewables rikers act, a package of three separate bills to both create a governance structure which would inform the management of the land on the island and decision making on how the city would move that plan forward and study potential uses that would support the city's reduced emission goals.
3:32:47
More than four years after that key win, however, the Adams administration has done little to either ensure the closure of the facilities along the 2027 deadline or to give the city agencies latitude to make clear decisions on what type of facilities will be signing up Rikers.
3:33:02
We're here to support inclusion in this coming fiscal year, fiscal year 2026, for funding to do further study on a master plan for Noble Rikers.
3:33:12
Again, as DEP mentioned, it's not only a cost, a potential cost savings in terms of reducing the burden on older wastewater treatment plants and putting that on a new fresh plant on Rikers.
3:33:29
We also see it as a part of a vision where again we are taking away the burdens of particular facilities in EJ communities along the waterfront around Rikers and placing that in a place where people aren't living.
3:33:42
And so again, we want to make sure that not only does the money get put in this coming budget for that planning, but also we would love to support the passing of a bill that council member Nurs was here earlier, intro ten thirty eight, to make sure that there is a clear, mandate from the city administration to make sure that DEP does that setting.
3:34:04
Otherwise, thank you for for listening and happy to take any questions.
Lincoln Restler
3:34:08
Thank you.