QUEENS: Queens Lawmakers Call On City To Terminate Contract Housing Rikers Detainees At Hotel

FRESH MEADOWS (QUEENS) NYC: Congresswoman Grace Meng, Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic and Councilwoman Linda Lee sent a letter to Mayor Eric Adams and to New York City Comptroller Brad Lander demanding the contract be terminated and the hotel return to its original use.

In the spring of 2020, without any notification or consultation, the city moved Rikers inmates as a precaution against COVID-19 into the Wyndham Hotel, located at 61-27 186th St., which is located in the lawmakers’ districts. 

In March 2020, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) was working with the Office of Emergency Management to provide secure and stable housing to those leaving the city’s jail system without a place to stay.

A nonprofit organization called Exodus Transitional Community is under a city contract to provide wraparound services, including case management, job placement, meals and assistance finding permanent housing.

Local elected officials were initially informed that the hotel’s continued use would be temporary and the program would end concurrently with the state of emergency created by the pandemic.

A participant of the program has alleged she was sexually assaulted by an Exodus employee.

There have also been reports that the program was operating with an unlicensed security vendor operating illegally.

This led to criminal charges being referred to the state attorney general and the Queens district attorney.

In response, Mayor Eric Adams ordered a review of all pandemic emergency contracts and last week Lander rejected the $40 million renewal of the contract. 

Based on these revelations, the end of the state of emergency, and New York City’s commitment that this housing arrangement would be temporary, the elected officials believe now would be the best time to terminate the contract.