Residents say ‘No’ to proposed South Bronx jail

Protesters rallied Tuesday against a plan to open a new city jail in the South Bronx.
Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. joined residents, business owners, lawmakers and other community members who oppose the plan at the corner of 141st Street and Concord Avenue.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has proposed putting a jail there after closing the infamous facility at Rikers Island. His plan would place smaller jails around the city to make up for the closure.
Instead of a jail, community members say they want mixed-income apartments and commercial space to help revitalize the neighborhood.
"You want to create jobs," Diaz says. "You want to create housing."
Critics say that while they support the closure of Rikers Island, they do not want a new jail in the middle of their neighborhood.
The mayor's office says it is committed to closing Rikers and replacing it with smaller jails, but it is open to considering input from the community.