Mamdani Names Dana Kaplan as NYC's First 'Close Rikers Czar'

Mayor Mamdani named Dana Kaplan as the city's first "close Rikers czar" — a new role responsible for orchestrating closure of the Rikers complex, reducing jail population, advancing construction of four borough-based facilities, and overseeing the safe transfer of people in custody. Kaplan brings 20+ years in criminal-justice reform: senior advisor to the Independent Rikers Commission (where she helped shape the city's closure blueprint), eight years at MOCJ as Deputy Director of Close Rikers and Justice Initiatives, and lead implementer of Raise the Age. The city is legally required to close Rikers by 2027; Mamdani has acknowledged the deadline will not be met but says he supports the broader plan.

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