City Casts Away Floating Jail, Sparking Outrage Amid Critics' 'Modern-Day Slave Ship' Label
New York City bid farewell to a notorious floating jail on Monday morning, marking the end of an era that symbolized systemic failures in its criminal justice system. The 625-foot-long facility, affectionately known as Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center, has been a thorn in the side of reformers for decades.
The barge's demise came after crews used torches to sever steel ties connecting it to its dock, and it was towed away to Louisiana where it will be scrapped for parts. While this may bring closure to some, others see it as a hollow victory, with critics labeling the floating jail a "modern-day slave ship" – a moniker aptly coined by Juval O. Scott, executive director of Bronx Defenders.
Scott's assertion that the barge represented a stark example of racial and socioeconomic disparities in the city's justice system rings true. The facility served as an overflow center during Rikers Island's overcrowding crisis, caging tens of thousands of men unable to afford bail – predominantly Black and brown individuals – for months or even years while awaiting trial.
Critics have long condemned the facility due to deplorable conditions leading to multiple deaths among detainees. The barge's removal has been hailed as a necessary step towards closing this shameful chapter in New York City's history.
EDC officials had initially planned for the barge to travel down the East River, but it was rerouted eastward along the Long Island Sound due to inclement weather and heavy vessel traffic. Tugboats will spend over two weeks transporting the facility to Louisiana, a move that has sparked little excitement from local residents or community leaders.
On the other hand, city officials see this as an opportunity to revitalize the space with a new marine terminal that aims to process freight and cargo using ships and barges instead of trucks. The "Blue Highways" initiative marks a crucial step in the city's efforts to transition its transportation infrastructure towards more sustainable methods.
As for the barge itself, it has been a costly relic for New York City – built at an astonishing $161 million and slated for demolition after years of criticism. Its eventual fate will bring in $1.5 million from Louisiana Scrap Metal Recycling for scrap metal salvage.
While this marks the end of an era, many question whether this symbolic gesture is merely a facade, hiding deeper systemic issues that still need to be addressed. For now, New Yorkers can only watch as the floating jail disappears into history – a poignant reminder of the city's checkered past and its struggles towards redemption.
New York City bid farewell to a notorious floating jail on Monday morning, marking the end of an era that symbolized systemic failures in its criminal justice system. The 625-foot-long facility, affectionately known as Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center, has been a thorn in the side of reformers for decades.
The barge's demise came after crews used torches to sever steel ties connecting it to its dock, and it was towed away to Louisiana where it will be scrapped for parts. While this may bring closure to some, others see it as a hollow victory, with critics labeling the floating jail a "modern-day slave ship" – a moniker aptly coined by Juval O. Scott, executive director of Bronx Defenders.
Scott's assertion that the barge represented a stark example of racial and socioeconomic disparities in the city's justice system rings true. The facility served as an overflow center during Rikers Island's overcrowding crisis, caging tens of thousands of men unable to afford bail – predominantly Black and brown individuals – for months or even years while awaiting trial.
Critics have long condemned the facility due to deplorable conditions leading to multiple deaths among detainees. The barge's removal has been hailed as a necessary step towards closing this shameful chapter in New York City's history.
EDC officials had initially planned for the barge to travel down the East River, but it was rerouted eastward along the Long Island Sound due to inclement weather and heavy vessel traffic. Tugboats will spend over two weeks transporting the facility to Louisiana, a move that has sparked little excitement from local residents or community leaders.
On the other hand, city officials see this as an opportunity to revitalize the space with a new marine terminal that aims to process freight and cargo using ships and barges instead of trucks. The "Blue Highways" initiative marks a crucial step in the city's efforts to transition its transportation infrastructure towards more sustainable methods.
As for the barge itself, it has been a costly relic for New York City – built at an astonishing $161 million and slated for demolition after years of criticism. Its eventual fate will bring in $1.5 million from Louisiana Scrap Metal Recycling for scrap metal salvage.
While this marks the end of an era, many question whether this symbolic gesture is merely a facade, hiding deeper systemic issues that still need to be addressed. For now, New Yorkers can only watch as the floating jail disappears into history – a poignant reminder of the city's checkered past and its struggles towards redemption.
The fact that they're just gonna scrap it for parts is wild 
. I mean, it cost $161 million to build and now it's just gonna be torn apart and sold off... what even is the point of that? 
And yeah, critics are right on the money with the "modern-day slave ship" label. It's a harsh reality check for NYC, but necessary one too 
. I'm just curious to see how they plan on using the space after it's torn down... hopefully it'll be something positive, like that marine terminal project 
, I mean, who needs a 625-foot-long prison on the water, right? It's not like it was a symbol of systemic failures or anything 
. And yeah, sure, some people are gonna call it a "modern-day slave ship" and be all dramatic about it 
, but come on, let's not get too worked up over it. It's just a big metal thingy floating in the water 
. A new marine terminal sounds like a great way to revitalize the area and make it more sustainable 
. And let's be real, who cares about the $1.5 million from scrap metal recycling? It's not like we're going to be using that money for better prison conditions or anything 
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. But I'm good with just moving on from this whole thing and focusing on more positive changes 
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. I mean, who gets to decide what's 'sustainable' when it comes to transportation infrastructure? And $161 million for a floating jail that was basically a symbol of our city's failures? That's just wild 
. Plus, what about all the people who were affected by the barge and Rikers Island in general? It feels like we're just erasing this dark chapter without really confronting the systemic issues that led to it 
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. I mean, it was always a symbol of how messed up our justice system is in this city. They're just moving the problem around instead of actually fixing it 
. We need real reform, not some fancy-schmancy terminal that's just gonna make more money for the port company 
i feel so bad for those people who had to go through deplorable conditions in that place... it's just heartbreaking to think about all the men who were trapped there for months or even years 
like, what kind of system lets this happen? and yeah, critics are right on point with the "modern-day slave ship" label - it's a harsh reality but someone needs to say it 
i'm glad the city is trying to revitalize the space with something more positive though, like the marine terminal idea 
I think this whole thing feels like a PR stunt... We're celebrating the end of one toxic situation but what about all the other "toxic situations" still festering in our justice system? It's easy to get rid of the floating jail, but where are we actually addressing the root issues that led to its existence in the first place? 
I'm kinda sad they got rid of it already... feels like we didn't really process what happened on that place... 
. like, what about all the folks who are still struggling with the system? shouldn't we be doing more than just tearing down the old to build something shiny and new? anyway, at least we can say goodbye to that eyesore for good 
. Have you ever tried making vegan mac n cheese from scratch? It's actually pretty easy! You can use a combo of nutritional yeast and cashew cream to get that cheesy flavor going on...
. But hey, at least we can say goodbye to that eyesore and get back to trying to make NYC a better place for everyone 
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my heart goes out to all those poor dudes who had to deal with that. I'm just glad we're moving forward and trying to make things better for everyone 
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