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New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

Eric Adams, the Democratic mayor-elect in New York City, has a history of supporting inhumane tactics against incarcerated people. This background has cast doubt on the prospect of current mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan to close Rikers Island. (Images via Wikimedia Commons, Staff Illustration by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: Eric Adams’ pro-prison record is dangerous for NYC

Democratic mayor-elect Eric Adams has a troubling record with the prison-industrial complex. As conditions worsen for people at Rikers Island, Adams’ history of standing against the rights of incarcerated people makes meaningful reforms unlikely.
Asha Ramachandran, Opinion Editor November 3, 2021

With the polls closed for the New York City mayoral election, Mayor-elect and former New York City Police Department captain Eric Adams will take office on Jan. 1. Meanwhile, on...

A woman holds a sign demanding the closure of the Rikers Island jail. Activists are criticizing the rising death toll and inhumane living conditions, and New York City has pledged to close Rikers Island in 2027. (Photo by Sam Clegg)

Opinion: Close Rikers now

Amid an alarming rise in suicides, neglect and unlivable conditions, it is incumbent upon Mayor Bill de Blasio to shut down Rikers Island jail complex and stop wasting taxpayer money on pointless reforms.
Asha Ramachandran, Opinion Editor September 30, 2021

After touring Rikers Island on Monday, Sept. 27, Mayor Bill de Blasio noted the city’s progress in improving the jail. However, he failed to mention the deadly overcrowding,...

The Exploitation of Prisoners During Crisis

The Exploitation of Prisoners During Crisis

As the coronavirus spreads across the state, New York is shifting the responsibility of combating the outbreak onto incarcerated people and is paying them around 60 cents an hour to do it.
Asha Ramachandran, Deputy Opinion Editor March 12, 2020

New York State is in the middle of a grave public health crisis, with the second-highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country. The way that Governor Andrew Cuomo’s...

The False Promise of Closing Rikers Island

The False Promise of Closing Rikers Island

The city’s so-called proposal to close the jail and build four new ones only guarantees the creation of the newer jails. Rikers’ closure, set for 2026, is not guaranteed to happen.
Asha Ramachandran, Contributing Writer October 27, 2019

The New York City Council overwhelmingly voted earlier this month to close the notorious Rikers Island jail complex. The $8 billion resolution will replace Rikers by building,...

Building Jails and Barring Voices

Building Jails and Barring Voices

The proposed Chinatown jail shows how far Mayor de Blasio is willing to go for political power by excluding the community from discussions despite health risks.
Jun Sung, Deputy Opinion Editor September 9, 2019

In his quest to close New York City’s most infamous jail, Mayor Bill de Blasio has proposed a four-borough jail plan to replace Rikers Island with four smaller jails in every...

The Petey Greene program offers educational programs to prisoners who have been deprived of it in correctional facilities. Brandon Crispin has been a volunteer tutor with the Petey Greene program for about a year.

Petey Greene: Education as Rehabilitation

Chelsey Sanchez, Digital Director October 2, 2017
NYU students who take part in the Petey Greene program provide much needed tutoring to students in correctional facilities.
Solitary Confinement Reform a Time-Sensitive Issue

Solitary Confinement Reform a Time-Sensitive Issue

Shiva Darshan, Staff Writer September 6, 2016
Over a year and a half after punitive segregation reforms were implemented, the Department of Corrections has yet to put them in place.

Reform of Rikers Island long overdue

WSN Editorial Board February 22, 2015
The abuse of vulnerable populations at Rikers Island needs to be systematically addressed with training reform.