Andrew Cuomo’s Plan to Save Rikers Island Ignores Clear Failure of City Policy

Andrew Cuomo’s recent bid to salvage Rikers Island exposes once again the deep dysfunction at the heart of New York City’s criminal justice system—a system that has long betrayed both public safety and fiscal responsibility. Despite a clear legal mandate to close Rikers by 2027 and replace it with four modern jails, Cuomo calls for rebuilding the notorious facility in place, dismissing years of plans aimed at reform.Why Rebuild When Reform Has Already Failed?The city council-approved plan from six years ago isn’t merely an idealistic wish; it’s a corrective measure grounded in reality. Rikers Island is crumbling, outrageously expensive—costing taxpayers...