Queens elected officials have been adamant about the reform needed at Rikers Island after 12 inmates have died just this year — among them is Councilman Robert Holden, who is calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to activate the National Guard in order to alleviate the dangerous conditions brought on by a “lack of leadership and poor policies.”
This past week, another inmate, Isaabdul Karim, died just after the governor announced nearly 200 detainees at Rikers on minor parole violations would be released. The order stipulated that technical violators could go home if they had been incarcerated for 30 days — Karim, who would have otherwise qualified, was at Rikers for 29 days.
