Gradual improvement at Rikers not enough when lives are at stake

We commend New York City Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Comptroller Brad Lander for their unannounced visit to the great shame off the coast of Queens: Rikers Island. As has been made clear by the Department of Correction’s years of dodges and obfuscations, including the recent stunt of touting dropping sick leave numbers without noting that the overall staffing levels remain the same, it’s clear that the best way to understand the crisis is through one’s own eyes and ears. While the trio acknowledged that conditions overall seem to have improved from the abs...