Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a plan in 2017 to shut down Rikers Island and build borough-based jails in its place by 2027. 

Earlier this week, Mayor Eric Adams asked the city to re-evaluate the plan to close Rikers. Elected officials and local organizations gathered at City Hall Park on Thursday to push that the current closure plan does not change. 

Elected officials tell News 12 that Rikers will be of better use when closed. They say the city's plan is to use Rikers as a renewable energy site and that investments should be put into proactive programs for mental health issues and other challenges incarcerated individuals face. 

Advocates and other officials say they will continue to apply pressure on the city to follow through with the plan.