Chinatown Residents Sue NYC Over 'Inhumane' Megajail Construction Schedule

A group of Chinatown residents has filed a lawsuit against the city, seeking to halt the construction of a new "megajail" in their neighborhood. The residents contend that the recently implemented 18-hour construction schedule on weekdays and 8-hour schedule on weekends is "inhumane and cruel" due to the excessive noise, dust, and disruption.

The construction, which began on October 12, is part of a broader $16 billion city plan to close Rikers Island and replace it with borough-based jails. City officials state that the extended hours aim to accelerate the project, potentially completing the 16-story jail by 2032, shaving two years off the original timeline. However, the lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, argues that this intensified schedule significantly exceeds what was previously studied and will have an undue burden on nearby residents, including seniors and a senior center.

"Our culture believes in honoring our elders. Subjecting them to around-the-clock drilling and construction through their final years is inhumane and cruel," said Vic Lee, founder and CEO of Welcome to Chinatown, a community group involved in the suit. Lee added, "We believe in closing Rikers, but its closure should not cause more marginalized communities to suffer."

Plaintiffs detailed experiencing unbearable noise, with the weekday construction now running from 6 a.m. to midnight. Many elderly residents report suffering from the overnight lighting, excavation noise, continuous motor idling, and accumulating dust. Filmmaker Jon Alpert, 77, a plaintiff in the suit, stated the new schedule is negatively impacting his health as he recovers from cancer treatment, noting that "pounding" begins before sunrise and dust has accumulated throughout his home.

Local City Councilmember Chris Marte asserted that City Hall has "abandoned" Chinatown, calling the extended construction hours a clear prioritization of the megajail over residents' well-being. The lawsuit claims the new schedule represents "more than a doubling of construction intensity as opposed to what was studied — and over twice as long a construction period."

City officials, through a spokesperson for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, stated they are committed to closing Rikers and transitioning to a safer correctional system. They also indicated that the administration will respond to the claims in court. The city maintains that extensive environmental monitoring, including vibration, dust, and noise monitors, is in place, along with sound mitigation measures like mufflers and sound blankets. The city also noted that Mayor Mamdani conceded this summer that the original 2027 deadline to close Rikers could not be met, with the project already facing an $8 billion budget overrun.

Welcome to Chinatown's founder, Vic Lee, expressed hope that the mayor will address the situation, stating, "The City can close Rikers the right way."