New York Mayor Eric Adams has called on the city council to reevaluate the plan to close down Rikers Island Prison Complex in 2027 due to high costs and public safety. The plan: The plan to close Rikers Island in four years and build jails in each of the city’s boroughs, except Staten Island, was initiated by former Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2017. Critics highlighted health risks due to potential air pollution during construction and the prison’s negative impact on local businesses and the community, which have already been affected by anti-Asian attacks during the COVID-19 pandemic.