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REMARKS
Recent progress and initiatives in closing Rikers Island
0:01:43
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73 sec
Council Member Nurse highlights recent progress and initiatives from various stakeholders in the effort to close Rikers Island. She mentions efforts from the court system, state government, and city agencies, as well as the City Council's work.
- The Office of Court Administration has begun a new initiative to speed up case processing.
- The state has increased investments in inpatient forensic psychiatric care and mobile mental health treatment teams.
- New York City Health and Hospitals plans to open 100 transitional housing beds for homeless people with serious mental illness and addiction issues.
- The City Council has conducted oversight, advanced legislation, and advocated for budget priorities to close Rikers Island.
Sandy Nurse
0:01:43
Thankfully we've already seen many critical stakeholders step up and meet this moment.
0:01:49
In recent months the office of court administration under the leadership of Judge Zayas began a transformational new citywide initiative to speed up case processing.
0:01:58
By all accounts, the district attorneys and public defender organizations that play a key role in implementing this initiative have been working in good faith to achieve its aims.
0:02:09
On the state level we've seen increased investments in inpatient forensic psychiatric care and mobile mental health treatment teams.
0:02:17
Although we know the state needs to do more.
0:02:20
New York City Health and Hospitals plans to open a hundred transitional housing beds with services tailored for homeless people with serious mental illness and addiction issues.
0:02:30
Under Speaker Adams leadership, this council has conducted rigorous oversight, advanced legislation, and advocated for budget priorities, all with the goal of permanently closing Rikers Island.
0:02:42
The legislation we are considering today builds on this work.
0:02:47
Today the primary goal is to ask this mayoral administration to show their work and explain what they are doing to meet this moment.