Latest news with #NewYorkCityCouncil
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
ICE wants an office inside NYC's notorious Rikers Island jail. A judge might end those hopes
A state judge in New York will continue to block Donald Trump's administration from opening an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office inside Rikers Island jail, one of the largest and most notorious detention facilities in the country, plagued by decades of reports of widespread abuse and violence. New York City Mayor Eric Adams gave ICE permission to operate inside the jail earlier this year, drawing lawsuits from city officials accusing Adams of crafting a 'corrupt bargain' with the president to expand his anti-immigration agenda in exchange for dropping a criminal corruption case against the mayor. On Tuesday, New York Supreme Court Justice Mary Rosado extended her temporary restraining order as she considers a more permanent injunction to keep federal immigration authorities from entering the city-run jail. 'The argument that this is not part of a quid pro quo or there's no politics at play here is absurd,' New York City Council member Alexa Aviles, chair of the council's immigration committee, told reporters after Tuesday's hearing in Manhattan. 'We cannot trust this administration to follow the law,' she said. Following Tuesday's hearing, first deputy mayor Randy Mastro defended the executive order 'to protect New Yorkers from violent transnational gangs.' 'We continue to disagree with the judge's decision to prevent the city from moving forward — especially since no one is disputing that the executive order is in accordance with the law — and we are confident in our position,' he said in a statement to The Independent. New York officials banned ICE from city jails in 2014 after the passage of so-called sanctuary laws intended to block the transfer of undocumented immigrants to ICE custody, where they are placed in deportation proceedings. But Adams — following his meetings with Trump border czar Tom Homan — granted ICE permission to return to the troubled facility with an executive order issued by one of his deputies. A subsequent lawsuit from the Democrat-controlled New York City Council called the order 'illegal, null, and void.' A coalition of civil rights and legal aid groups and public defenders along with New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams filed briefs supporting the lawsuit. The order from the Adams administration is in 'clear violation of New York City's sanctuary protections and it invites a new era of racial profiling, wrongful deportations, and constitutional violations,' according to Meghna Philip with the The Legal Aid Society. 'The Trump administration has shown it will use any pretext to carry out mass deportations — even in defiance of our Constitution and federal court rulings — and this executive order gives ICE direct access to New Yorkers in custody, their information, and their families,' she said in a statement. Last month, after a years-long court battle, a federal judge stripped New York City of its control over Rikers Island and ordered a third-party monitor to take over. That ruling — the culmination of roughly 14 years of litigation — followed years of reports detailing the conditions, abuse, violence and death inside the jail. At least 19 people died inside Rikers in 2022 — the highest number of deaths since 2013. At least five people have died inside the jail in 2025 so far. After years of public pressure, the jail is legally required to close by August 2027. That detention space — where more than 7,000 people are jailed — is set to be replaced with smaller borough-based jails. But the Adams administration is reportedly considering scrapping those plans altogether. Federal immigration officials maintained an office at Rikers in the years before the city's sanctuary policies, leading to 'countless violations of detainees' rights,' according to law professor Peter Markowitz, co-director of the Kathryn O. Greenberg Immigration Justice Clinic at Yeshiva University's Cardozo School of Law. ICE had access to detailed information about anyone entering the jail with 'on-demand access' to interview them, he wrote in court documents. 'Detainees were often misinformed that they were being taken for legal visits, only to then be presented to plain-clothed ICE agents who would question them and attempt to extract legal admissions,' according to Markowitz. Immigration officers used the jail to 'surveil, intimidate, and conduct uncounseled interviews in an inherently coercive setting, allowing them to extract admissions about nationality and immigration status and then use those statements to justify detention and deportation,' he wrote. If ICE returns to the jail, Rikers will return to the 'widespread violation of detainees' constitutional rights and due process of law, albeit in an even more aggressive posture than during the first Trump administration,' according to Markowitz. The city's arrangement ostensibly only allows for ICE to launch criminal investigations, not for routine enforcement of largely civil federal immigration law. But civil rights groups and immigration attorneys fear that federal officers — empowered by Trump's use of the Alien Enemies Act to target alleged gang members — will bypass due process and summarily deport immigrants using only spurious evidence against them. 'The assertions that returning ICE to Rikers Island is necessary to advance criminal investigations of dangerous gangs reeks of pretext. I know of no specific instance where ICE's lack of physical presence at Rikers Island has stood as, or even been claimed as, an obstacle to a criminal investigation,' according to Markowitz. The Independent has requested comment from ICE.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Residents against construction of nearly 300-foot jail in Chinatown
The Brief A nearly 300-foot-tall jail facility is being built in Chinatown, and residents are not enthused. Neighbors United Below Canal held a rally in Chinatown today to unveil an "alternative plan" to New York City's borough-based jail system. A New York City Council spokesperson said that "the contract to build the Manhattan-based borough jail at this site has already been signed and the work has already begun." CHINATOWN - Neighbors United Below Canal (NUBC) held a rally to publicly unveil their proposal for the city to relocate a nearly 300-foot-tall jail being built in Chinatown. What we know In 2017, former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the city would work to create a borough-based jail system – this jail system would take the place of Rikers Island, which was voted to shut down by the New York City Council in 2019. Click to open this PDF in a new window. Major construction of the borough-based jails began in June 2021. The four jail sites in the network are located in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. The Manhattan Borough-Based Jail Facility will be located at 124 to 125 White Street, on the site of the former Manhattan Detention Complex; the complex was demolished over a 12-month period. The project to build the Manhattan facility is currently slated for completion in 2032, five years after Rikers Island is scheduled to be closed. A video released by construction company Tutor Perini revealed the facility will be nearly 300 feet tall and will cost nearly $3.8 billion to construct. The other side Many residents in Chinatown, the neighborhood where the Manhattan jail will be built, are against the construction of the facility. NUBC filed a lawsuit in the New York State Supreme Court in 2020, saying that the city "underestimates the impacts of the Manhattan jail" on residential traffic, noise pollution, socioeconomic impacts and open space resources, among other areas. Click to open this PDF in a new window. The group won their suit, but the city filed an appeal, which it won in 2021. Another group, Welcome to Chinatown, joined NUBC's fight against the construction of the jail that same year. Together, both groups have created an "Alternative Plan," which primarily proposes relocating the Manhattan jail to the currently empty Metropolitan Correction Center, which closed in 2021. The plan also includes building new affordable housing and green space at 125 White Street in place of the facility. This proposal was revealed at a rally held in Chinatown earlier today, June 2 – Assemblymember Grace Lee and Councilmember Christopher Marte were both in attendance. This plan would require approval from both the city and federal government, but NUBC told FOX 5 NY's Morgan McKay that it has reached out to New York Senator Chuck Schumer's office regarding the issue. New York Mayor Eric Adams's office emphasized that the decision to build the Manhattan jail in Chinatown was a decision made under the de Blasio administration, and that any decision to move the location of the jail would have to go through the city council. "We continue to engage with community members on the project and implement other public safety improvements within our control," a spokesperson for Adams said. A City Council spokesperson said that "the contract to build the Manhattan-based borough jail at this site has already been signed and the work has already begun." The Source This article includes reporting from FOX 5 NY's Morgan McKay and statements made spokespeople for New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Council, as well as information provided by New York City's government website and Neighbors United Below Canal.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Woke NYC Councilwoman Gale Brewer demanding free dental care for migrants
A lefty Upper West Side councilwoman demanded free dental care for illegal immigrants this week — as she revealed she's shelled out more than $8,000 of her own dough to keep their pearly whites intact. 'Is someone paying attention to all of their health needs!' Councilwoman Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan) roared at NYC Health Department officials during a May 23 budget hearing. 'They have a lot of health needs. Forget the dental! I'm already out $8,000-$10,000 on the dental. So who is paying attention to them?' she scolded. 7 Councilwoman Gale Brewer claims getting proper dental care for illegal immigrants is like pulling teeth. Getty Images Brewer, who earns $148,500 as a council member, told The Post Friday she's been fighting tooth and nail for migrants' health needs — including paying out of her own pocket for some of them to root canals, cavity fillings, and other dental procedures. 'I've been doing this kind of stuff for years, especially helping younger people,' said the 73-year-old Brewer, who previously fostered 35 children with her husband, author Cal Snyder. 'This is nothing new for me.' During the hearing, Brewer told Acting Health Commissioner Michelle Morse the agency needs to do a better job spreading the word about what free healthcare assistance is available to migrants at city hospitals — including dental. 'Those guys you see driving those mobile e-bikes, they all have [city-funded health insurance] …, but they don't know what to do with it, to be honest with you,' she said. 7 'They have a lot of health needs. Forget the dental! I'm already out $8,000-$10,000 on the dental. So, who is paying attention to them?' Brewer said. New York City Council 'And I assume you can't do dental, because you can't get dental for Americans — let alone for anybody else. They all have dental issues.' 'I happen to know a lot of … asylum seekers [and] support them,' she ranted. 'You can't imagine how well I know then them – extremely well. And so, I've taken on a lot of the young people, a ton of them.' 'These are young guys. They're pretty lost' about what taxpayer-funded health benefits they qualify for, Brewer added. 7 Brewer told Acting Health Commissioner Michelle Morse the agency needs to do a better job spreading the word about what free healthcare assistance is available to migrants at city hospitals. 7 Morse said her agency would work with the city's hospital system to expand education to migrants about free healthcare services through the 'NYC Care' program. New York City Council 'I'm really concerned about their health.' Critics said the longtime pol is more concerned with illegal migrants' pearly whites than the needs of her own district. 'This is another example of misplaced priorities from Gale Brewer,' said longtime Upper West Side activist Maria Danzilo. 7 Recently arrived asylum seekers get information on free health care in front of P.S. 188 in Coney Island, which has recently begun housing migrants in the school gym on May 16, 2023, in New York City. Getty Images 'It's unfortunate that Gale feels migrants' dental problems are more important that the needs of her own constituents in the community. 'What is she doing about the healthcare needs of her community? Plenty of New Yorkers also lack medical coverage.' Morse said her agency would work with the city's hospital system to expand education to migrants about free healthcare services through the 'NYC Care' program. 7 Darton College dental hygiene students Regina Schirato and Brooke Wenck give a farm worker a dental exam Wednesday evening, June 18, 2003, in a migrant farmer camp near Moultrie, Georgia. Getty Images All city hospitals – both public and private – are required by law to treat emergency patients regardless of their ability to pay or immigration status. Migrants who've applied for political asylum are also eligible for Medicaid benefits. Minors, seniors, and pregnant women are eligible for free health care regardless of their immigrant status. The Health Department declined to comment when asked if Brewer could've saved herself some cash by directing migrants with dental issues to city hospitals or health centers. 7 Brewer said she's been fighting tooth and nail for migrants' health needs. Laura Cavanaugh This isn't the first time during hearings over the next fiscal year's budget where Brewer's gone off on a wild tangent. She told Department of Correction honchos during a March hearing that the food menu offered on Rikers Island is so bad it makes her sick to her stomach. Brewer then proclaimed she wanted the city to feed jailbirds 'farm-to-table' meals, like ones served up at some of the Big Apple's top Michelin-starred restaurants.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Disgraced Democrat Anthony Weiner roasts Kamala Harris for blowing up her campaign on ‘The View'
Despite going to prison for a sex scandal involving minors, disgraced former congressman and former New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner said on Friday he can still do a better job than his Democratic colleagues did in the 2024 election. During an appearance on ABC's "The View," Weiner explained that he is attempting to get back into politics by running for New York City Council because he believes, despite his baggage, that he's a better politician than current Democratic figures. He also mocked former Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing her of ruining her 2024 presidential campaign while appearing on the same show. "By the way, was this where Kamala Harris was sitting when she blew up her campaign?" he asked as soon as he took his seat between the four co-hosts. Anthony Weiner Says Voters Don't Want What 'Democrats Are Selling,' Talks About Comeback As Fiery Centrist "Is this the spot?" Weiner asked, gesturing to his chair. "I hope I don't have the same fate." Read On The Fox News App Harris told "The View" last year that there "is not a thing that comes to mind" when asked what she would have done differently than then-President Biden. The moment was widely seen as a turning point that led to the downfall of her campaign. Later in the interview, Weiner hit Harris again. He responded to co-host Joy Behar's suggestion that even though men like Weiner and President Donald Trump have problematic pasts, a woman like the former vice president still can't make it to the highest office. Though the aspiring city council member admitted female politicians are often judged harshly, he maintained that Harris made an obvious blunder in response to "The View's" "softball" question last year. "The problem is, it's a little bit too easy an answer, though, because also there were things that Kamala Harris – I made a joking reference to the answer she gave on this show: 'Is there anything you would do different?' That is the softest of softball that – every politician dreams to have that question," Weiner replied. "You still have to be a good candidate." Harris did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Tapper Admits Feeling 'Humility' About Past Biden Coverage As Liberals Disparage New Book Weiner left Congress in 2011 following a photo of the married then-congressman leaking on one of his social media accounts. Additional sex scandals mounted in the following years, culminating in an FBI investigation that led to Weiner serving 21 months in prison and registering as a sex offender after sending sexually explicit images to a minor. After his dig toward Harris at the top of the segment, Behar pressed Weiner on why he believes he can get back into politics considering his scandal-plagued background. The aspiring city councilman said it's because he believes he's a better politician than many current Democratic lawmakers. "I think what I said at the time was I couldn't imagine there would ever be a chance that either people would want me back or that I would want to get back into that again," he replied. "But when I woke up in November of '24 and saw the election results, but more than who won, I looked around New York City and saw how many fewer Democrats even turned out to vote. And I started to say to myself, 'Something is seriously wrong here.'" Weiner said too many Democratic candidates were running "frictionless" campaigns and playing it too safe. He told the co-hosts that he felt compelled to jump back into politics because his contemporaries were not answering the public's "cry that they wanted things to change." He added that his past was not a "good enough reason… not to get off the couch and try." Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture Co-host Ana Navarro pressed him on his specific scandals, asking, "Why should New Yorkers give you a chance at a political comeback?" He replied, "I'm doing the opposite of what a lot of politicians do in my position – ignore that problem, pretend it didn't happen, blame someone else. I am saying, yes, I did these things. I got into recovery. I tried to make my life better. And now, if I can be of service – and I'm a damn good politician. I come up with answers, I talk to people directly, I don't try to butter over things, I try to be direct." "Look, all I can ever be is who I am right now and that brought me to this space," Weiner article source: Disgraced Democrat Anthony Weiner roasts Kamala Harris for blowing up her campaign on 'The View'
Fox News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Disgraced Democrat Anthony Weiner roasts Kamala Harris for blowing up her campaign on ‘The View'
Despite going to prison for a sex scandal involving minors, disgraced former congressman and former New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner said on Friday he can still do a better job than his Democratic colleagues did in the 2024 election. During an appearance on ABC's "The View," Weiner explained that he is attempting to get back into politics by running for New York City Council because he believes, despite his baggage, that he's a better politician than current Democratic figures. He also mocked former Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing her of ruining her 2024 presidential campaign while appearing on the same show. "By the way, was this where Kamala Harris was sitting when she blew up her campaign?" he asked as soon as he took his seat between the four co-hosts. "Is this the spot?" Weiner asked, gesturing to his chair. "I hope I don't have the same fate." Harris told "The View" last year that there "is not a thing that comes to mind" when asked what she would have done differently than then-President Biden. The moment was widely seen as a turning point that led to the downfall of her campaign. Later in the interview, Weiner hit Harris again. He responded to co-host Joy Behar's suggestion that even though men like Weiner and President Donald Trump have problematic pasts, a woman like the former vice president still can't make it to the highest office. Though the aspiring city council member admitted female politicians are often judged harshly, he maintained that Harris made an obvious blunder in response to "The View's" "softball" question last year. "The problem is, it's a little bit too easy an answer, though, because also there were things that Kamala Harris – I made a joking reference to the answer she gave on this show: 'Is there anything you would do different?' That is the softest of softball that – every politician dreams to have that question," Weiner replied. "You still have to be a good candidate." Harris did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Weiner left Congress in 2011 following a photo of the married then-congressman leaking on one of his social media accounts. Additional sex scandals mounted in the following years, culminating in an FBI investigation that led to Weiner serving 21 months in prison and registering as a sex offender after sending sexually explicit images to a minor. After his dig toward Harris at the top of the segment, Behar pressed Weiner on why he believes he can get back into politics considering his scandal-plagued background. The aspiring city councilman said it's because he believes he's a better politician than many current Democratic lawmakers. "I think what I said at the time was I couldn't imagine there would ever be a chance that either people would want me back or that I would want to get back into that again," he replied. "But when I woke up in November of '24 and saw the election results, but more than who won, I looked around New York City and saw how many fewer Democrats even turned out to vote. And I started to say to myself, 'Something is seriously wrong here.'" Weiner said too many Democratic candidates were running "frictionless" campaigns and playing it too safe. He told the co-hosts that he felt compelled to jump back into politics because his contemporaries were not answering the public's "cry that they wanted things to change." He added that his past was not a "good enough reason… not to get off the couch and try." Co-host Ana Navarro pressed him on his specific scandals, asking, "Why should New Yorkers give you a chance at a political comeback?" He replied, "I'm doing the opposite of what a lot of politicians do in my position – ignore that problem, pretend it didn't happen, blame someone else. I am saying, yes, I did these things. I got into recovery. I tried to make my life better. And now, if I can be of service – and I'm a damn good politician. I come up with answers, I talk to people directly, I don't try to butter over things, I try to be direct." "Look, all I can ever be is who I am right now and that brought me to this space," Weiner added.
