Former Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a proposal to end New York City’s borough-based jail plan and instead rebuild Rikers Island into a modern correctional campus. Cuomo announced the proposal during the Crain’s Business Mayoral Forum on Wednesday, October 8th, as part of his campaign for mayor.
Cuomo emphasized that Rikers Island must be closed “as we know it,” calling the existing facility outdated, unsafe, and inhumane. However, he argued that the current four-borough jail plan has become “a $16 billion boondoggle” that would burden neighborhoods and fail to deliver a fairer justice system. He described the plan as another example of “ideology over competence,” pointing to construction delays and ballooning costs.
“The borough-based jail plan was unworkable from the start,” Cuomo said. “We can and must do both things at once: Close Rikers as we know it, and rebuild it the right way.”
Under his proposal, the city would redevelop Rikers Island in phases, replacing old structures one at a time, allowing operations to continue during construction. Cuomo compared this approach to his previous infrastructure projects, including LaGuardia Airport and the L-train rehabilitation, both of which were completed ahead of schedule.
He proposed redirecting the borough jail sites toward affordable housing and mixed-use community developments. These would include housing built with union labor, open spaces, childcare centers, and retail stores. Cuomo also suggested launching express bus routes from each borough to Rikers Island to maintain visitation access for families and legal representatives.
The city’s current plan to close Rikers and build new jails in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx has faced significant setbacks. Estimated costs have nearly doubled since 2019, while construction remains behind schedule. The City’s Budget Director has acknowledged that the 2027 closure deadline is unlikely to be met.
If elected, Cuomo pledged to deliver a “humane, efficient correctional campus” on Rikers Island and ensure that local communities benefit from redevelopment elsewhere.
