Proposed Mott Haven jail met with community criticism

<p>An NYPD tow yard in the Bronx may soon become the site of the next New York City jail.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

Mar 9, 2018, 5:52 PM

Updated 2,251 days ago

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An NYPD tow yard in the Bronx may soon become the site of the next New York City jail.
The proposal to turn the yard between 141st Street and Concord Avenue into a jail  was met with criticism from hundreds of residents during a town hall meeting Thursday.
Those opposing the plan gathered at P.S. 65 which is located just blocks from the proposed site of the jail and multiple residential buildings.
With the eventual closure of Rikers Island, the mayor announced several fixes to correctional facilities, including a new jail sites to be built in the Bronx over the upcoming years.
However, residents in Mott Haven say the city could look elsewhere.
Paul Jones, a local community board member, spoke to News 12 about the reasons why the community is upset.
"There are literally dozens and dozens of things I can think of that this community needs; a jail is not one of them," he says.
Neighbors say the houses and buildings around the proposal site are occupied by working class families with children. There are also three schools in the area, neighbors say. 
They argue that placing a jail smack in the middle of the neighborhood would cause constant worry and anxiety.
Several town hall meetings are being held between local officials and the community to discuss the matter further, officials say.


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