Local leaders rallied today at Metropolitan Detention Center in Sunset Park to call for stricter oversight for what they say is a troubled facility.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Comptroller Brad Lander say detainees at MDC are being denied the basic necessities like medical care and adequate amounts of food. They were joined by people who have experienced the jail firsthand and say the conditions are inhumane.

Larry Williams says he spent 17 years in MDC and that the conditions inside are deplorable. He described mold coming from the walls as well as temperatures so cold in the winter that it felt like sitting in a freezer.

The elected officials signed a letter addressed to the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Prisons today.

In it, they're demanding an increase in medical staff, allowing unscheduled visits for federal judges and elected officials to ensure accountability, and for every staff member to undergo a thorough screening for weapons and drugs.

Williams and Lander say they're calling on Attorney General Merrick Garland and Borough of Prison Director Colette Peters to address these issues.