Diaz, others protests Mott
Haven jail on City Hall steps
East 161st Street. The borough president cited
the Lippman Commission report’s fi ndings that
jails are best constructed in close proximity to
civic centers, which Diaz literally read aloud to
protestors.
The BP presented charts that clearly demonstrated
that the tow pound site is a half hour from
the courthouse by public transit…on a good day.
Additionally, Arline Parks the CEO of Diego
Beekman Mutual Housing Association had an
elaborate plan to acquire the tow pound in efforts
to create a super block of affordable housing
and community amenities.
She’s joined Diaz in opposing the jail plan for
almost a year now.
“We have been demanding the mayor and
City Council change their unjust jail plan for the
better part of a year, and we have not heard one
word from them, nor seen any meaningful community
engagement whatsoever,” Parks said on
that Sunday.
She had previously fought to have the Bronx
jail site given a separate ULURP, so that it
wouldn’t be bundled in and pushed through with
the rest of the citywide jail proposals, given it’s
unique set of circumstances.
“We should not abandon the principles of
criminal justice reform for reasons of political
expediency,” she said.
While opposition to how the phase out of Rikers
Island is handled is primarily a Bronx matter,
Sunday’s demonstration got support from
the communities of Chinatown and Kew Gardens,
which jumped on board the proverbial
train as well.
Diaz also teamed up with fellow borough
president Melinda Katz of Queens on Friday,
March 8, to pen a scathing letter to de Blasio,
criticizing the mayor’s lack of community engagement
over Rikers Island planned phase
out. He also joined forces with soon-to-be retired
Congressman Jose E. Serrano in fi ghting the
jail.
“It is right in the middle of a residential
neighborhood, too far from the local court, and
has been controversial since fi rst announced,”
Serrano said through a statement.
The congressman has been active in the jail
battle since its announcement last February,
when he attended a town hall at P.S. 65, which is
just two blocks from 320 Concord Avenue.
“Bronx residents and the community of Mott
Haven deserve more,” he said.
As the ULURP procedure continues to procede
over the following months, Parks is urging
civil disobedience to bring awareness in her
community’s ongoing struggle to stop the city
from “dumping on Mott Haven yet again.”
BRONX W www.BXTimes.com EEKLY April 1, 2019 10
Diaz (l) addresses protestors. Schneps Media/Alex Mitchell
Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.
joined Diego Beekman Houses tenants
and community leaders from across the
city on Sunday, March 24 on the steps
of City Hall to oppose the proposed Mott
Haven Jail. During the rally, Diaz called
on Mayor de Blasio to cease the certifi
cation of the the city’s Uniform Land
Use Review Procedure for the proposed
jail site at 320 Concord Avenue. The
site is currently operated as a tow yard,
and is the former location of Lincoln
Hospital, in the middle of a residential
neighborhood in Mott Haven. Diaz and
those assembled at the event called on
the mayor to select a better site for the
jail, specifi cally the existing Bronx Family
Court location and additional vacant
space next to the Bronx Hall of Justice
on East 161st Street.
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