Public Advocate Jumaane Williams is sharply criticizing Mayor Eric Adams following the mayor's decision to suspend parts of a new law designed to limit the use of solitary confinement at Rikers Island.
Adams signed an executive order Saturday –one day before the law was set to take effect – suspending parts of the law that set a four-hour time limit on holding prisoners in solitary confinement. Williams, who proposed the original legislation, set forth the law as a way to reduce the likelihood of inmates dying by suicide, violence or overdose.
"It's another opportunity for the mayor to show that, as Speaker [Adrienne] Adams said, King Adams is the only elected official and none of us are here, the Council is not here," Williams said Monday during an interview on "Mornings On 1."
Adams had been vocal in his opposition to the legislation, but said the delay was so he and his team could "have time to analyze the law and decide the proper way to implement it."
In his order, the mayor also suspended a part of the law that prohibited correction officers from placing prisoners in “restrictive housing” for more than 60 days in any 12-month period, citing safety concerns among inmates and officers.
“It is of the utmost importance to protect the health and safety of all persons in the custody of the Department of Correction and of all officers and persons who work in the City of New York jails and who transport persons in custody to court and other facilities, and the public,” Adams wrote.
Williams vehemently disagreed with Adams’ decision, saying the use of prolonged confinement is detrimental the health and safety of inmates.
"This bill, I just want folks to know, all it does is say that we asked the Department of Correction to open another housing unit. They do this all the time. And the only thing that it was saying they can't do is use prolonged isolation. We want housing to be used to separate folks when they need to be separated. But prolonged isolation is a thing that we've been talking about, that everyone understands is damaging to people," Williams said.
Williams further accused Adams of abusing emergency powers to obstruct efforts by the City Council and other elected leaders.
"We have found a pattern of abuse from this mayor when it comes to things of this nature. And again, all of us were elected by the same city on the same day. The mayor refuses to accept that. And if it doesn't come from him, it's not right. The most dangerous thing here is abusing a state of emergency order because that is a precedent that can be very, very harmful," Williams said.
The public advocate said legal action is being considered.
"We're going to look at everything that we can do including suing. I know that Speaker Adams and the Council are also looking at the same," he said. "But New Yorkers should be disturbed that this mayor does not want to work with anyone else except himself."
Williams plans to join a press conference Monday at City Hall to call on Adams to reconsider his emergency order.
Adams' state of emergency declaration will remain in effect for up to 30 days or until it is rescinded, whichever is earlier, with 30-day extensions possible. The order suspending parts of the new law will be in effect for five days unless terminated or modified earlier, according to The Associated Press.