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I visited the Metropolitan Detention Center (aka #SunsetParkGulag) along with @NydiaVelazquez @RepJerryNadler @RepMaloney and other local elected officials this afternoon. The lack of action by the Federal Bureau of Prisons is really a human rights violation. 
The electricity & phones have been off since last Sunday. Prison officials have been keeping the inmates on lockdown, so the guys I talked to have not showered in 2 days. Some cells are quite cold (although most do have heat).
There are no visiting hours, so both they are their loved ones are disconnected, without information, and very anxious.
They warden & facilities manager told us that the electrical contractor had been there this morning, but decided to go home and come back on Monday. They had no plans to do anything before then. They really did not seem the least bit concerned by it.
Prison officials apparently decided not to activate their emergency plan when the power went out last Sunday, or at any time since. The warden has reportedly been AWOL much of the week.
Some prisoner have medical conditions that are not being addressed. For example, some need a CPAP machine for sleep apnea, which requires power. They have not been able to use them in a week. s
For those who have been commenting that heat & power has also been off in NYCHA buildings, you are correct that it is also appalling (and something the Council has been consistently rallying, holding hearings about, and demanding change).
Pretty damn depressing we live in a world so characterized by selective outrage, weaponized as politics for the purpose of social media battles.
For those who have questioned whether the inmates deserve to be treated as human beings, well, I’m not even going to bother letting you know how sad your lack of humanity makes me.
For those asking what you can do right now, two ideas:
1/ Family members, neighbors and activists will be holding a constant vigil until power & conditions are restores. If you can, bring coffee or food, 29th Street btw. 2nd & 3rd Avenues.
1/ Family members, neighbors and activists will be holding a constant vigil until power & conditions are restores. If you can, bring coffee or food, 29th Street btw. 2nd & 3rd Avenues.
2/ The Acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons is Hugh Hurwitz (after the resignation of the prior director). I’m pretty sure his email is hhurwitz@bop.gov.
