Construction of the World’s Tallest Jail in Chinatown Sparks Concerns

The city’s plan to close Rikers Island by 2027 and open new jails in every borough except Staten Island has led to the construction of a new jail in Chinatown, which is expected to be the tallest in the world. However, residents are concerned that the construction project will make their neighborhood less safe and potentially destroy the foundations of nearby buildings, leading to residents losing their homes.

Concerns and Issues

Residents like Shang F Lin are already experiencing issues like cracks in walls due to demolition, and the construction of the new jail is causing damage to nearby buildings. The project’s completion is expected to bring further issues to the neighborhood, which is already struggling to recover from economic losses since 2020. The construction involves deep excavation and demolition, causing concerns about potential displacement of residents and damage to the area.

Potential Impact on the Neighborhood

• Damage to ancient buildings, with foundations shaking and residents fearing they may collapse
• Potential health risks from toxic dust and vibration
• Negative impact on future property development, with local activists warning it may deter developers and further neglect the neighborhood’s need for affordable housing
• Potential lowering of property values due to the presence of a large jail

Rikers Island: A Humanitarian Crisis

Rikers Island is described as a humanitarian crisis and “hell” due to its inhuman conditions, with a capacity to hold up to 15,000 people. The facility is plagued by overcrowding, broken toilets, and unsanitary living conditions, and inmates have reported being coerced into undergoing expensive elective surgeries under false pretenses. The city has been ordered to plan for a possible federal takeover by January 2025, following a decade of federal monitoring that has consistently reported poor conditions.

Proposed Solution and Criticisms

The new jail is being built near the courts, which may reduce the issue of people missing court dates and allow for speedier justice. However, critics argue that it’s misguided to build a new jail while the current one remains problematic, and that the city should focus on addressing the underlying issues that lead to incarceration. Additionally, the plan to release 60% of inmates from the new jails has raised concerns about public safety, as some of those released may be dangerous criminals.

Community Response

A community gathered to protest the new detention center, criticizing the city’s plan to build multiple borough-based facilities to replace Riker’s Island. Residents are concerned about the potential impact on their daily lives and the future of their neighborhood, and are questioning whether the new jail will make the city safer or less safe. The city has set aside $460 million in anticipation of potential damage to neighboring buildings during construction, but residents remain skeptical about the project’s benefits.

Key Vocabulary

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Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which word means ‘a situation in which people are treated very badly and are not given their basic rights’?

A) Humanitarian Crisis
B) Affordable Housing
C) Elective Surgeries
D) Public Safety

2. What does ‘demolition’ refer to in the context of the construction project?

A) The act of building a new structure
B) The process of repairing old buildings
C) The destruction of existing buildings or structures
D) The excavation of deep foundations

3. Which of the following is a potential health risk associated with the construction of the new jail?

A) Overcrowding
B) Toxic dust and vibration
C) Affordable housing
D) Speedier justice

4. What is the city’s plan for the new jail in terms of inmate release?

A) To release all inmates immediately
B) To release 20% of inmates from the new jails
C) To release 60% of inmates from the new jails
D) To keep all inmates in the new jail

5. What is the amount of money set aside by the city in anticipation of potential damage to neighboring buildings during construction?

A) $100 million
B) $460 million
C) $1 billion
D) $5 million

Answer Key:

1. A
2. C
3. B
4. C
5. B

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: The Use of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Grammar Quiz:

Choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses to complete each sentence:

1. The city (have/has/had/has been) struggling to address the issues at Rikers Island for years, and the situation remains critical.
   A) haveB) has beenC) hadD) has
2. By the time the new jail is completed, the construction project (will have been/will be/have been/is) underway for several years.
   A) isB) will beC) will have beenD) have been
3. Residents (are experiencing/have experienced/are going to experience/have been experiencing) issues with their homes due to the demolition and construction.
   A) have experiencedB) are going to experienceC) have been experiencingD) are experiencing
4. The city (has set/has been setting/will set/is setting) aside $460 million to cover potential damages during the construction of the new jail.
   A) will setB) is settingC) has been settingD) has set
5. By January 2025, the city (will have been monitoring/has monitored/is monitoring/will monitor) the conditions at Rikers Island for over a decade.
   A) is monitoringB) has monitoredC) will monitorD) will have been monitoring

Answer Key:

1. B) has been
2. C) will have been
3. C) have been experiencing
4. D) has set
5. D) will have been monitoring