Rikers prisoners work for Sandy recovery

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:31:00 +0000

As Superstorm Sandy approached the East Coast, Salon reported on New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's callous comment about Rikers Island prison inmates during the storm. When asked by a reporter about how the prison would fare in the storm, Bloomberg did not comment on inmate safety, but said only, "Jails are secure … Don’t worry about anyone getting out.”

Disregard for the inmates ahead of the storm has turned to reliance in its wake. The New York Times called Rikers inmates "unsung heroes" of Sandy's relief -- prisoners who work at the Rikers laundry center for 39 cents an hour added extra loads to their work to clean blankets and sheets for the city's overloaded shelters.

Occupy Sandy relief steps up

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:08:00 +0000

As Salon reported Tuesday, alongside major coordinated relief efforts by the Red Cross to meet emergency needs after Hurricane Sandy, Occupy networks around New York are connecting to provide non-emergency aid to storm-struck areas.

Since the setup of the "Occupy Sandy Relief NYC" Facebook page (which has accrued over 2,000 "likes") and the proliferation of the Twitter hashtag #SandyAid to spread information, on-the-ground work has begun. OWS has teamed up with environmental group 350.org (responsible for the Times Square "end climate silence" demo on Sunday) and disaster relief platform Recovers.org to coordinate efforts. They have established drop-off points throughout Brooklyn to collect items including clothes, candles, flashlights, batteries, water and food. The volunteers started in Manhattan's blacked-out Lower East side and have been moving through New York's five boroughs.

As Allison Kilkenny noted on her Nation blog:

Salon.com > Sandy relief

Rikers prisoners work for Sandy recovery

Occupy Sandy relief steps up