Last week, several members of our church gathered to discuss the ongoing work of Faith Communities for Just Reentry. As part of a larger coalition of faith communities, we helped to launch this campaign last summer because we saw the City of New York fail to care for our neighbors at Rikers Island as the greatest public health crisis in a century took root. The COVID-19 infection rate on Rikers Island has been several times higher than that in the whole of New York City, the epicenter of the pandemic. Like those living in other congregate settings, New Yorkers in our jails are at extraordinarily high risk for infection from COVID-19 because conditions do not allow for physical distancing.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, over 2,500 people have been released, many without identification, critical medication, or coronavirus testing. This is unconscionable.
Together, we can draw the attention of Mayor de Blasio and the City Council to the urgency of just reentry. Please feel free to adapt the language in the script below to call or email the Mayor and City Council.
Script to Use When Calling or Emailing the Mayor and City Council
Dear _______________, I am a proud member of The Riverside Church and we are actively engaged in Faith Communities for Just Reentry, a coalition of more than 40 faith communities. We believe it is a moral imperative that ourreentry system does not fail our fellow New Yorkers released from jail during the COVID-19 crisisand exacerbate New York’s existing homelessness crisis.
As New York City continues to battle COVID-19, Rikers Island is again an epicenter of the pandemic. What's worse, as New Yorkers leave Rikers, they face a host of life-threatening challenges that can lead to homelessness, COVID-19 infection, and serious health risks. The City has an obligation to ensure New Yorkers returning to our communities have access to the basicnecessities they need – such as COVID-19 testing and vaccination, housing, medication and personal IDs – to stay safe during reentry and reduce the chance of recidivism.
We call on New York City to take immediate action to ensure New Yorkers leaving Rikers and families impacted by the criminal legal system have access to the tools they need and deserve:
- Provide each person with valid identification by printing an IDNYC card for every singleperson in city jails.
- Provide COVID-19 testing and vaccine access to every person in city jails.
- Pass and sign into law the Fair Chance for Housing Act (Intro 2047) and end discriminationagainst our neighbors with conviction records.
- Pass and sign into law Intro 146 to raise the amount of CityFHEPs vouchers and makethese vouchers work for homeless New Yorkers.
The longer we wait, the more lives are at risk. We urge you to act now.
Thank you.
