USGS

The island.

Count Rev. Al Sharpton with Mayor de Blasio among the skeptics about the notion of closing Rikers Island. On Monday night hosted Corrections Officer Benevolent Association President Norman Seabrook and new Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark for a discussion of that idea and, as reported by City & State‘s Frank G. Runyeon, raised questions about whether and how mothballing Rikers would solve any of the problems affecting inmates.

Last week, Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced the launch of a commission to explore the mechanics of creating community jails to replace Rikers, de Blasio said a closure was impractical, and Gov. Cuomo sided with the closure crowd. All this comes three months after City & State and City Limits explored the politics and logistics of closing Rikers.

Read Runyeon’s report here and our November series here.