I thought it was strange when the city proposed building condos above the jail. Well, now you can go on a field-trip there.
Our jail, the Brooklyn Detention Center, which is getting ready to reopen after it was shuttered for renovations in 2003, is holding an open house on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The community fought for years to keep the jail from re-opening, and a community-led lawsuit successfully blocked the city’s plans on expanding the facility. Now, you can tour around on Saturday, check out the 759-beds and the mess hall.
Mayor Bloomberg included the re-opening of the facility as a “green” effort, as keeping inmates there while they await trial will save a lot of gas going back and forth from Rikers Island. Some who’ve been sentenced for a year or less will also stay at the jail.
