Council Member Costa Constantinides announces his legislation today (Photo: CM Constantinides)
June 10, 2019 By Laura Hanrahan
Council Member Costa Constantinides announced today that he will be introducing a three-bill legislative package later this week that aims to transform Rikers Island into a green energy hub.
The set of bills, titled the Renewable Rikers Act, co-sponsored by Manhattan Council Member Helen Rosenthal, will be introduced at Thursday’s Council meeting. The bills, if passed, would begin the process of establishing renewable energy sources on Rikers Island, including solar panels.
“For generations, Rikers Island has been a place of despair for many New Yorkers caught up in a fractured criminal justice system,” Constantinides said. “These bills are a downpayment for a brighter future for this island — one that actually serves New York communities instead of tearing them apart.”
Elected officials, particularly Mayor Bill de Blasio, have been calling for the closure of the notorious jail by 2027 in favor of a borough-based jail system. While the closure of the complex seems likely, a final decision has not yet been made.
Rikers Island, which sits in the East River off LaGuardia Airport, is part of Council District 22, which is represented by Constantinides and covers Astoria and parts of Woodside, Jackson Heights, and East Elmhurst.
Constantinides’ first bill would transfer control of the island from the New York City Department of Correction to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection as a means to ensure the island is never again used as a jail.
His second bill would require the City to determine how much renewable energy could be generated on the island. He said that the energy generated on island would help the City meet its pledge to reach a 1,000 megawatt solar capacity by 2030—enough to power 250,000 homes, Constantinides said.
The third bill would require the city to determine how much wastewater could be diverted to the island. A wastewater treatment center on the island could potentially lead to the closure of facilities in northern Queens, the south Bronx and Upper Manhattan.
Rikers Island (Wikmedia Commons)
The legislation would reduce the environmental burden on many low-income and minority communities, Constantinides said. The oil- and gas-burning power plants, which are a blight on minority areas, would be more likely to close.
Constantinides said last week that the island is unsuitable for housing. He said that it is mostly landfill of ash and garbage. There have been methane leaks since the 1930s which have been linked to cancer, he said.
“This legislation is a breath of fresh air,” said Assemblymember Aravella Simotas. “Rikers Island is known for its destructive impact on the lives of minority communities, but we have an opportunity to change that legacy. With the Renewable Rikers Act, we can mitigate the pollution in our working class neighborhoods and transform Rikers Island into a green hub. I am proud to support this innovative legislation on the state level.”
Constantinides has spent much of his time in office dedicated to environmental policy. He was instrumental in the passage of the city’s Green New Deal earlier this year that will require the reduction of carbon emissions from many large buildings.
The announcement of the legislation comes just days after Constantinides held a town hall meeting at the Jackson Heights Jewish Center to discuss converting at least one-quarter of the 413-acre island into a source of renewable energy.
The event, held Thursday, was attended by about 250 residents, according to reports. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and several local elected officials all spoke in favor of the plan.
Ocasio-Cortez spoke to attendees outside the packed center.
I’m thrilled so many community members came to our #RenewableRikers town hall, but sadly some folks couldn’t make it in.
So we held an impromptu session on the street.
NY14 is fired up + ready to #CloseRikers, and take it back for the public good ⬇️pic.twitter.com/2cKQ3qnzHL
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 7, 2019
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15 Comments
All these individuals that wants to leave Rikers Island open to continue the torture of human beings and disagree with renewable Rikers plan are ignorant and compassionate.
Why would u shut rikers?? it fall under the jurisdiction of the Bronx DA period. Finally the turnkeys would be able to defend themselves bad idea by our socialist twerps
It might be a good idea but the people in other areas of Queens aren’t happy at all because of the plan to put the prisoners in their neighborhood. It was a better idea that ALL prisoners are on an island away from society to make the people feel safe. If you can do that then maybe the people will go for it.
Why are they being so accommodating to prisoners? People don’t want them in their neighborhoods.
These so called “prisoners ” most of them are awaiting trial and they are human beings. I hope you or anyone close to you never end up in such inhumane conditions.
I always wanted to see Rikers Island but I never knew anyone that was housed there. I hope the area becomes open to the public by adding bike lanes around the island.
I still think they should house the homeless at Rikers.
I think it would be a great place for hotels, casinos and/or a big amusement park. Everyone had so much fun at The Astoria Park Carnival this past weekend. I wish we had something like that all year long!
I totally agree with Greta. Communities in the 5 boros have always complained about homeless shelters in their areas. Citing increase in crimes and safety of their children. Utter nonsense. Show me the police reports. To have all the homeless in one central location would free up more housing for low income families
Please do something about that disgusting smell from the sewer plants in the Ditmars area! I regret moving to a neighborhood that stinks like this during rain or humid days.
Any comment from Costa about this event?
https://astoriapost.com/man-beaten-stabbed-inside-astoria-7-eleven-nypd
I haven’t heard anything.
Astoria has enough bad press when it comes to crime lately. Sometimes its better to just let the police do their job. But i do agree that some politicians only get involved nowadays when it benefits their stance with certain demographics and/or ethnic identities.
Happy there are so many thumbs down when it comes to questioning our blowhard elected officials and their addressing crime. Disgraceful. Hope and pray vermin like this don’t catch you giving them a sideways glance and bludgeon you in a 7-11…
Steinway street is a ghost town Costa-that can be a green hub right now. How is the Key Food protest going? Such a political hack. Vote this bum out
Sounds great. Let’s do it.