‘An important, historic moment’: Mayor signs Queens councilman’s Renewable Rikers Act into law

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The Renewable Rikers Act, a package of legislation that would transfer a portion of Rikers Island from the Department of Corrections (DOC) to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) and initiate a study of renewable energy generation and storage there, was signed into law on Thursday, Feb. 25.

Mayor Bill de Blasio called it “an important, historic moment” prior to signing the bills introduced by Astoria City Councilman Costa Constantinides.

The package of legislation consists of two bills: Intro. 1592 and Intro. 1593.

Intro 1592 transfers jurisdiction of portions of Rikers Island that are not in active use as a jail site to the DCAS beginning on July 1. The full transfer of Rikers Island from DOC to DCAS will be completed by Aug. 31, 2027.