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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Gordon Lee, Member of VOCAL-NY on Closing Rikers Island
4:07:05
·
3 min
Gordon Lee, a member of VOCAL-NY, testified about the crisis at Rikers Island and suggested alternatives to the current jail system. He advocated for closing Rikers and building smaller, more manageable jails closer to communities. Lee also raised concerns about ICE's involvement at Rikers and the treatment of immigrants.
- Proposed smaller jails at borough, township, village, district, and neighborhood levels for easier management and to keep inmates closer to their families and resources
- Criticized the ICE program at Rikers Island, particularly the policy of holding immigrants for deportation without due process
- Expressed sympathy for Council Member Sandy Nurse, referencing her experience as a victim at Rikers Island
Gordon Lee
4:07:05
Good night, everyone.
4:07:08
I'm Gordon Lee from Brooklyn.
4:07:13
Looks like I don't really have to introduce myself.
4:07:17
As you heard, I am Gordon Lee.
4:07:20
I I was one of the newborns under the Nixon presidency, and I'm with all groups including Vocal New York, and Shut Down Rikers because I wanna fight for causes that no one can live without.
4:07:39
And I also take issue with the crisis, with the jail system, and the crisis at Rikers Island.
4:07:49
And I want to I want to start by, I also suggest closing of Rikers and build more smaller versions of our jails, you know, like what they just suggested, borrow based, so that they're more easier to manage.
4:08:12
I also want to suggest, you know, township based, village based, district based, and even neighborhood based, you know, jails, so they're more easier to manage and, you know, convicted felons they can do their time close to home, have access to their lawyers and their families and healthcare providers rather than to be sent upstate or out of state or overseas.
4:08:48
And I also want us and I also take issue with the ICE program at Rikers Island, and a new policy where immigrants are held at Rikers for ICE to come and take, and then deport them without due process and sent somewhere to never be heard from again, may go overseas to an another prison similar to Rikers like that in El Salvador.
4:09:23
And, you know, I've been following the news, and I heard all about the crisis at Michael's Island and with ICE.
4:09:44
And miss nurse, I heard that you I was at the budget hearing right here, and I heard that you visited Rikers and you are a victim of Rikers.
4:10:02
They mention that you were raped and they tried to cover it up.
4:10:08
I'm sorry it happened.
4:10:09
I hope that you will somehow get justice and
Sandy Nurse
4:10:17
Thank you so much.
4:10:18
Really appreciate it.
Gordon Lee
4:10:19
You're very welcome and I'm afraid I'm gonna have to continue.
Sandy Nurse
4:10:26
Well, we're we're running short on time because we have to be out of here in exactly fifteen more minutes.
Gordon Lee
4:10:33
Time is
Sandy Nurse
4:10:34
almost So, I have another four yes.
4:10:37
Yeah.
Gordon Lee
4:10:37
Is four minutes left?
Sandy Nurse
4:10:39
No, no, no, no, no.
4:10:40
We your time is up.
4:10:42
Okay.
4:10:42
We have to run, we have to finish in fifteen minutes, so if you have anything you want to submit in written testimony you can, but thank you for testifying.
4:10:51
Thanks.
4:10:51
Thank you.
Gordon Lee
4:10:52
For organizing.
4:10:53
Great job.