The jails on Rikers Island are legally required to close within four years. But closing Rikers is not simply a legal obligation – it is a moral one. “Torture Island,” as it is commonly known by those who’ve survived it, has robbed generations of primarily Black and Brown people of their freedom and their human rights. The deadly conditions at Rikers have claimed far too many lives, including 30 people since Mayor Adams took office. Fortunately, there is a plan in place to close Rikers that was envisioned and fought for by formerly incarcerated people and their family members, with the support of faith leaders, service providers, community organizations, and other allies. This plan was approved and passed by the Mayor and City Council in October 2019, after extensive community input.

Now is the time to accelerate this plan, and to maximize every possible strategy to reduce the jail population and limit the number of people exposed to the harm and abuses of Rikers. The Mayor and city agencies must take the lead in urgently executing this plan, and every elected official must leverage their power to support its implementation. For more information, visit campaigntocloserikers.org

Police in New York currently are still allowed to question youth without a guardian or lawyer present. The Right to Remain Silent Bill will provide protections to children under 18 in police custody by ensuring youth can to a lawyer before they are subject to police questioning. R2RS will protect children most vulnerable against abuses by police. The 5th Amendment grants Miranda Rights, or the Right to Remain Silent. While this is a guaranteed right under the constitution, approximately 90% of young people waive this right when faced with police interrogation. The #RighttoRemainSilent bill will protect a child’s right to remain silent by requiring consultation with a lawyer to ensure they understand their rights and the consequences of waiving them. After the police take a child into custody, if they determine interrogation is necessary, it would be mandatory that the child first consult with a lawyer before any questioning can take place. Consultation with a lawyer would be a non-waivable requirement. Any statement taken in violation of this requirement could not be entered into evidence against the child. #RighttoRemainSilent reaffirms the rights of youth who enter the criminal justice system, which is vital to protecting the futures of vulnerable youth.

The NYC Street Vendor Justice Coalition (SVJC), a group of organizations representing small businesses, public space, labor and immigrant rights advocates, was formed in 2021 to advocate for a fair vending system in NYC, one that treats our city’s smallest businesses with dignity, respect, and offers them the opportunity to formalize their businesses.

Street vendors are New York City’s smallest businesses, and an essential part of the fabric of our City’s culture and economy. Nearly 20,000 entrepreneurs, primarily immigrants, people of color, military veterans and women, are employed as street vendors. Their work ensures under-resourced neighborhoods have access to fresh, affordable food and merchandise, that commercial districts have diversity of business, while serving a quintessential New York experience to tourists and residents alike. As small-business owners and job creators who pay millions of dollars in taxes, street vendors are exactly the type of hard-working entrepreneurs our City should encourage.