Jacob Kaye

Queens Defenders' board forces out controversial executive director — Queens Daily Eagle Lori Zeno, the controversial executive director of the Queens Defenders, was forced to go on immediate leave by the group’s board of directors this week.

Queens Defenders' controversial executive director Lori Zeno was forced to go on leave by the group's board last night. Though the board's chair didn't say what was behind the dismissal, he told staff to reach out to the AG's whistleblower office with complaints.

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The city today told a federal judge that DOC Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie should serve as the receiver charged with taking over Rikers (they would call her "compliance director"). She'd serve for five years and the mayor would be unable to fire her, under their proposal.

Rikers replacement in Manhattan to open five years after jail complex’s closure — Queens Daily Eagle While it’s long been expected, the contract presented for Manhattan’s borough-based jail made it official – none of the new jails will be completed before Rikers is required to close.

While it’s long been expected, the contract presented for Manhattan’s borough-based jail made it official – none of the new jails will be completed before Rikers is required to close.

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A century of violence, chaos and death: Inside the troubled history of Rikers Island — Queens Daily Eagle As a federal judge considers taking Rikers Island out of the city’s control and handing it to a court-appointed receiver, the Eagle is looking back at the history of the city’s troubled jail complex i...

As a judge considers handing Rikers to a court-appointed receiver, the Eagle is looking back at the history of the troubled jail complex in an effort to understand how the city arrived at this critical moment.

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Hochul’s clemency reforms stall, concerning advocates — Queens Daily Eagle Governor Kathy Hochul’s promise to issue clemency on a rolling basis has stalled this year, concerning advocates who say hundreds of New Yorkers deserve a shot at release from prison.

Hochul’s promise to grant clemency on a rolling basis has largely fallen flat. Last year, she commuted the sentences of nine people — this year, only two.

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Council takes mayor to court for blocking law banning solitary on Rikers — Queens Daily Eagle Mayor Eric Adams was sued by the City Council on Monday for his refusal to implement a law banning solitary confinement in the city’s jails.

Breaking: The City Council is suing Mayor Eric Adams for his refusal to implement a law banning solitary confinement in Rikers Island

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Judge ‘inclined’ to strip city of control of Rikers Island — Queens Daily Eagle A federal takeover of Rikers Island has never been more of a possibility.

The likelihood of a federal takeover of Rikers Island has never been higher. In an historic decision this morning, a federal judge said she was "inclined" to strip the city of its control of the jail complex and hand it to a federal receiver

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Breaking: A federal judge today ruled that the city is in contempt of court for its failure to keep Rikers Island safe. Most importantly though, she also said that she is "inclined to impose receivership," stripping control of the jails away from the city.

Mayor makes vague pitch to turn borough-based jail into mental health treatment facility — Queens Daily Eagle Mayor Eric Adams pitched a vague plan to turn one of the city’s proposed – and extremely delayed – borough-based jail facilities into a mental health treatment jail, confusing advocates and lawmakers ...

The mayor appeared to contradict nearly everything he’s said and done about closing Rikers when he pitched turning one of the borough-based jails into a treatment facility yesterday queenseagle.com/all/2024/11/...

Monitor says Rikers remains dangerous as judge mulls federal takeover — Queens Daily Eagle As a potential federal takeover of Rikers Island looms over the city, a court-appointed monitor said in a highly anticipated report that violence and dysfunction has continued to plague the jail compl...

As we await a judge’s decision on whether or not Rikers remains in control of the city, her court appointed monitor said in a highly anticipated report that the risk of harm in the jails remains very high

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Cohen’s casino plan wins over community boards — Queens Daily Eagle Mets owner Steve Cohen’s plan to bring a casino to Western Queens was overwhelmingly approved by all five community boards charged with reviewing the proposal under the city’s land use review process.

Steve Cohen's plan to bring a casino to Citi Field was overwhelmingly approved by a handful of local community boards this month. But Cohen will need the OK from a bunch of other people before anyone can start placing bets at Metropolitan Park queenseagle.com/all/2024/11/...

That's a wrap on hopes to accelerate the downatate casino license bidding process. Hochul vetoed the legislation rather than offer chapter amendments to update the Aug. 31 deadline. "I cannot support a bill that aims to chage the rules in the middle of the process"

Rikers Island Shutdown Plan Progresses With Construction Firms for New Manhattan Jail The selection of Tutor Perini and O & G Industries to design and build the White Street lockup represents a final piece in the borough-jails puzzle.

"The city’s ambitious plan to close Rikers Island took a major step forward after the Adams administration this month tapped two construction firms to build a new lockup in lower Manhattan."
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Rikers monitor says discussions about the federal takeover of the jail complex have been "constructive and productive." But the judge still has not issued her ruling about whether or not the city is in contempt of a nearly decade-old consent judgment, and the monitor says he needs answers.

DOC boss denies knowing about Rikers’ ‘worst-kept secret’ — Queens Daily Eagle The head of the city’s Department of Correction had little to say when asked about allegations that officers regularly lock up detainees with mental health issues for days or weeks at a time in solita...

The DOC commish told an oversight board she's "not aware" of any officers indiscriminately locking up mentally ill detainees for days or weeks at a time without access to meds or doctors. Others told the board it's the "worst-kept secret" on Rikers.

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