Efforts to replace Riker’s Island have resulted in a possible establishment of a 350 foot Jailscaper in the heart of Chinatown. Demolitions for this controversial facility have created lots of commotion among the City’s inhabitants and community leaders.
Being one of the poorest neighbhorhoods in New York City, Chinatown has been home to many for roughly two centuries. Among those include immigrant workers that are still affected by the ramifications of 9/11, the pandemic, and weather disasters. Even so, they have worked hard to keep their stores and restaurants alive. Now, longtime businesses are being warned to close or relocate due to renovations while others are uncertain if they can sustain their organizations in the future as fewer people fill the area.
Despite the site’s monitors that track noise and air quality, residents still claim to be suffering. People have started to develop allergies they never had before and felt physical discomfort on their skin due to dust. Additionally, nearly a third of the people living near the area are 65 or older meaning they are more vulnerable to dangerous health conditions. Futhermore, reocurring shaking from the space has several created cracks in the walls and many are feeling unsafe. However, the cracks are to be repaired by the administration.
Apart from direct health risks, others protest that the money being used for the jail could be utilized for better humane purposes such as social services and other facilities that can benefit the community more. The proposed price of the project that started at 1.7 billion is now doubled to around 3.4 billion which many aren’t happy about. Furthermore, Chinatown community leaders have made known that the management has given them very short notices about the construction and things are being revealed to the public almost the same time as them.
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