Transcript: Mayor Adams Appoints Lynelle Maginley-Liddie as Department of Correction Commissioner

December 8, 2023

Ingrid Lewis‑Martin, Chief Advisor to the Mayor: Good afternoon. [Inaudible] to be here, I am the Chief Advisor to Mayor Chaplain Dr. Ingrid P. Lewis‑Martin. As you know, when Mayor Adams formed his administration, he promised to make it a diverse administration, he promised to make it an administration that mirrors the citizenry of New York City. Look behind us: you will see that he has done just that.

So, we have a group of exceptional women, as well as men — don't want to leave the brothers out, you know — standing with me. And it's an honor to be on team Adams serving New York City with these exceptional individuals: visionaries comprised of deputy mayors, commissioners, senior advisors, chief advisor and directors. The list goes on. We have a great support team as well. The list really truly goes on.

So, New York City is in great hands, and I am excited today — in fact, I'm over excited, I'm thrilled, I'm delighted — to add another incredible leader to our illustrious administration. So, without any further ado, it's indeed an honor for me to do what I do so well, present to you our 110th mayor of New York City, Honorable Eric Adams.
  
Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you. Thanks. Thanks so much, Ingrid, I really thank the entire team that's here as we make such an important appointment. And I've stated this over and over again, it has almost become a slogan for all of us, that public safety is a prerequisite to prosperity in the city. And does not only mean that public safety should be on the streets of New York, but it should be in one of the toughest beats we have in New York, and that is our New York City jail system.

A challenging and difficult job, and I recall year after year even when I was a police officer standing side by side with the men and women of the Department of Correction. For far too long, they have been ignored. We have created an atmosphere where the men and women who serve there and the men and women who are serving time there have not received the services that they deserve.

We saw what happened during the Covid pandemic, officers were doing triples. They did not have some of the necessary PPEs and some of the necessary support that they deserve. And we saw so many years we believed that after someone is incarcerated at Rikers Island or one of our jail facilities that they just disappear somewhere, but that's not true. They are here to serve their time with the dignity and respect that they deserve. And we know that we cannot have a city that could have safety on our streets and not safety in our jail.

And that's one of the greatest responsibilities that I have as the mayor of the City of New York, that includes appointing a commissioner of the Department of Correction that understands how this issue is so dear to me.

I have visited Rikers Island in my short period of time of 24 months in office probably more than any mayor in the history of this city. I sat down with inmates, I communicated with employees. I visited last November a woman who gave birth to a child while she was serving time, a young child in the Department of Correction. I have witnessed the improvements there, and I know they don't make sexy headlines, but in reality I know what we inherited January 1st, 2022, and we're a long way from that.

Today it's my great honor to announce New York City's next commissioner of the Department of Correction, Lynelle. I want to thank you, Lynelle Maginley‑Liddie, who is now being appointed to the role of being the commissioner of the Department of Correction.
  
It was a tough decision. Several people were interviewed, and Deputy Mayor Banks and our corp counsel both weighed in with the list, and they gave me and handed me several names. But it was clear to me after a Sunday afternoon conversation that I had my next commissioner of the Department of Correction as she shared her story and her journey, the American story, and most importantly her dad being a pastor, that meant a lot.

And she brought the emotional intelligence that's needed in a very difficult time in the Department of Correction. She's the second Black woman to lead the Department of Correction, and she's the right leader for the right time. It takes a steady hand to run the agency. Many people are detached spectators, but you have to walk through the correctional facilities to see exactly what is taking place there and how much pain is being experienced, and you need someone that's willing not only to bring the professional capacity but to bring humanity to the job. And that's what I believe Lynelle is going to take and bring.

And it takes the right experience. It takes her experience, someone who will fight for our hard working staff that's often ignored in this conversation and ensure the dignity of the detainees in our care. And that's Lynelle.

She has worked in the Department of Correction for nearly a decade. She knows the men and women who on the front lines at DOC including our uniformed employees, which includes — what people don't realize — almost 45 percent are women, 45 percent are women yet we only had the second African American commissioner to be there.

And that uniformed workforce provides a vital service. I've watched them as they interact with the inmates, and they bring this level of motherhood and sisterhood that's really unique for that environment, because many of our detainees have never had the level of nurturing if you walk through the facility.

She was promoted to deputy general counsel in 2018. Most recently, she served as the first deputy commissioner and chief diversity officer. Her role helped develop DOC's MWBE program. She knows that you have to lead from the front, and that was evident in my conversation with her.

She has played an essential role in the progress we have made over the past 23 months at the Department of Correction, including our administration's efforts to reverse the decades of mismanagement on Rikers Island.

She's ready to confront the challenges that still remain, and there are challenges that remain. And she's ready to hit the ground running because of that experience of being here through other administrations, she knows what it needs and she's on the front line of that change.

Deputy Mayor Banks unfortunately couldn't be here today due to an unavoidable conflict, but he was vital in making this decision. I spoke with him for about five days as we went through each list, and he talked about the pros and cons and assets of all of them who were on the list. And we were left with some very qualified men and women who we could have decided, but it was clear from his viewpoint and my viewpoint Lynelle was the one.

Our administration — as he stated — our administration has made tremendous progress in the Department of Correction  reducing violence, improving safety and having the lowest rate of death in custody in the nation. Sometimes that's lost when you look at the headlines, but the reality is we have the lowest in the nation.

These are just some of the tremendous gains made under our administration, and Lynelle has been key to those successes. He continues on to say, I'm confident that she will continue to expand that progress, and I can think of no one better to build off of Louis Molina's success at DOC than Lynelle.

I also want to thank Commissioner Molina, inherited… 
  
Inherited a very difficult assignment to take on a facility where many people are dealing with health issues, over 50 percent are dealing with mental health illness, 18 percent are dealing with severe mental health illness, almost 80 percent don't have a high school diploma or equivalency diploma, 30 to 40 percent are dyslexic.

We were having thousands of officers who did not want to come to work anymore, we were seeing violence at a level that was just unimaginable. And there were just so many people outside not really acknowledging the success that Louis made, and I cannot thank him enough for doing the job. And I also thank him for staying with the administration using his talents and skills as he served under the deputy mayor of public safety.

Lynelle also continues in this administration's tradition of leadership by strong women in general but specifically women of color. Before I finish, as I stated, we want to continue to move this Rikers Island and our success forward. We believe we're in the right place at the right time to do the job. It is my real honor to give this shield over to our next commissioner of the Department of Correction. Lynelle?
  
Commissioner Lynelle Maginley‑Liddie, Department of Correction: Thank you, Mayor Adams, for this honor and for your confidence in appointing me to be the commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction. I humbly accept this position knowing the complexities which lies ahead of us, and I'm optimistic for the future ahead because I believe in the men and women of the department.

As I step into this crucial position, I'm deeply committed to serving in your administration and being of service to the great citizens of the City of New York. I am looking forward to working with Deputy Mayor Banks, the unions, the senior leaders, the dedicated public servants and community members committed to our mission of progressive change.

As we forge ahead, I'm confident that we can restore the department to the levels of greatness we have seen before. What I can assure you is that I along with the men and women of the Department of Correction will work tirelessly to get the job done.

As a commissioner, my focus will be restoration and investment in a safe, secure, humane and supportive environment for each person entrusted to our care. For more than 125 years the Department of Correction has been in existence; and in that time, we have seen the agency in many stages. Innovation and compassion have been our watch words, that must always be so.

I am so proud to lead the department's uniformed and non-uniformed staff who every day, and I mean every day, perform one of the toughest jobs in law enforcement. Many of our staff come from the same communities as those entrusted to their care. They work at the department because they understand the impact of the criminal justice system and have made the choice to be leaders in criminal justice reform. Heroes truly do work here. 

Immediately, I will focus my attention on the reforms required under the Nunez consent decree. During my time at the department I have established a strong working relationship with the monitoring team. They know me and my values and commitment. I will strengthen that relationship through continued openness and transparency. With your support, Mayor Adams, I intend to use my authority as commissioner to access every tool in city government to continue and expand on the progress that we have made to bring about needed reforms.

I stand here today among the many women in leadership positions, accomplished women of experience who have served and continue to serve this great city and its vulnerable communities. I came to this country as an immigrant from Antigua more than two decades ago to pursue my passion for law and public service. My parents and family have supported me in every step of that journey, and I owe them everything.

My journey is not unique, it is the embodiment of the American dream. It is a journey that for the last 18 years I've taken with my husband Michael and without his support, none of this would have been possible. Together we have raised two children, Gabby and Michael, who mean the world to us.
  
Two decades ago, never would I have thought that as a child of a pastor from a small Caribbean island I'd be standing here as commissioner of such a great institution in the greatest city in the world. Thank you, Mayor Adams, for this opportunity. I also thank Deputy Mayor Banks. And to my DOC Boldest family, let's do this.
  
Mayor Adams: [Inaudible] some questions.

Question: So, congratulations first.

Commissioner Maginley‑Liddie: Thank you.

Question: A question about receivership that some people might say that the writing's on the wall, perhaps that it was an internal promotion might indicate that the writing is on the wall. What will you say to the court — I believe that there's a court hearing next week — to convince them otherwise? That you have the skill set, the courage, whatever characteristic you want to say, to try to stay off receivership?

Commissioner Maginley‑Liddie: So, first I will say that a receivership, it's not a foregone conclusion. The parties filed their motion last month and we are working with the Law Department to file a response. What I will tell the court is what we're going to do in terms of continued reforms and that is to ensure that we're in compliance with the Nunez consent decree and all of the orders associated with it.

Question: Speaking of the federal monitor… 

Mayor Adams: You know, what's very interesting is that something that Deputy Mayor Banks said to me the other day while we were going through this process. He went to Rikers Island he said Eric, you should go look at the female restroom there and the conditions of it. The inability to take showers, how the [conditions] are just deplorable.

It is because we have found ourselves in this space where we can't use capital dollars because of the Close Rikers plan, and we're also navigating to make sure that we communicate with the entire special monitor. And so what we can't do, as the commissioner just stated, is sit back and state that well, something may happen. We have to function now.

And this is an indication that we're going to continue to function. She has the ability to move forward. But when you are dealing with this, the corp counsel's role is to deal with the conversation about receivership, the conversation about dealing with the special monitor. That is her job.

It is the job of the commissioner to run DOC to make sure those prisoners are safe, the inmates are safe, to make sure the men and women who are there are safe and to make sure we take a system that has been deplorable for decades — for decades — and in 24 months we have made great strides that others were not able to do. She has her job, and the corp counsel has her job, and we're not going to divide the two jobs.

Question: So, speaking to that, then. Over the last 24 months when you've been in office and you've been also in the DOC, you [inaudible] corporation counsel, the federal monitor said there's been a lot of regression in how the DOC operates and recently saying that the relationship is completely eroded between the DOC and the federal monitor.

So, how in your position or your position is that going to be fixed, or what do you plan to do different than Commissioner Molina to help restore that relationship?

Mayor Adams: Well, first of all, I think that the relationship with human beings are never eroded to the point that it cannot recover. And that's what we need to do. I need someone that's willing to come in with her pastorial upbringing and the power of prayer and communication to come in and show that there's too much at stake for inmates, for officers and our city to reach the point that we believe that something has eroded to the capacity that it cannot recover.

And that's what I believe, and that's what we're going to do. We are willing to sit down with the special monitor and we're willing to sit down with all those who are involved, with the City Councilmembers, all of those who are involved and say, we have to fix the Department of Correction, this is an opportunity to do so.

And I cannot emphasize enough. This place has been broken for decades — for decades — and so we can't continue to kick the can down the road, we can't continue to say, well, let's let a receivership. You do the analysis. Show me a successful receivership in the country. Show me where someone has come in and they have taken over and they fixed their systems.

And so we're saying to everyone that's involved, we want the challenge. Give us an opportunity to do so and if it need be to hit reset to reset the focus and agenda and the communication, we're willing to do that. We're going to give it our all.

Question: To the commissioner, what would you like to do differently than your predecessor to help move this forward as the mayor just said?

Commissioner Maginley‑Liddie: So, as the mayor just indicated, that we're going to work with the monitor. I've been at the department for the last eight years and I have a really good, open relationship with the monitor and we're going to continue to build on that.

Mayor Adams: And of the things I want to mention is, one of the things we did so you'll know, the corp counsel did, we showed the complete list of those who we were considered to be [Correction] commissioner. The monitor doesn't have veto power. They don't determine who the commissioner is.

But in our show of good faith, we're saying we're getting ready to move in a new direction, so here's a complete list. Weigh in your thoughts, so when we turn it over to the mayor, we can share this is the thought that the monitor has about each person.

The last two people I spoke with, they got great reviews from the monitor. And so we want to show good faith and good communication. We're no longer trying to give the impression that we have eroded to the point that we can't communicate. We can communicate, and we will communicate.

Question: Good afternoon, mayor. How are you doing today?

Mayor Adams: How are you?

Question: Congratulations, commissioner. Twofold. Obviously there are a lot of questions about the federal monitor as well as the legal filings for a federal takeover. Can you just unpack what the process is moving forward to make sure there's clarity on how this process moves forward so that everyone understands?

And the second part of that question would be a statement just released by the Legal Aid Society pretty much saying that… I think you've already addressed it, but I'd just like to present this to you. They congratulate as well and recognize her accomplishments and achievements but still believe that Rikers is beyond the control of one person, that… The problems that need to be rectified.

So, yes, I just want to make sure we understand, are these two separate processes with the monitor and the federal takeover, and what's that process moving forward so we can make sure everyone understands what's happening.

Sylvia Hinds-Radix, Corporation Counsel, Law Department: Thanks for that question and congratulations, commissioner. And let me thank our mayor for the tremendous amount of work that this administration has done in order to do the work that we have been doing at Rikers.

And the legal issue is, where we are right now is that the plaintiffs have filed their papers. There is a schedule that the court has provided. We have to respond, and we will be responding in January to the issues.

As you've heard before, our position is that we don't see what a receiver can do better than the city has been doing, and we intend to put all of our pieces in the document that we're going to be putting before the court. Of course, after, you know, litigation… So after we put our papers, there are going to be responses.

And this is not something that happens overnight. It's going to be a lengthy process. We are hoping that in the midst of what we're doing with reference to court papers that we can demonstrate to the monitor we are not going to sit on our hands and wait just to see what the court papers are doing, we're going to be working with the commissioner, and the commissioner is going to be working with the monitor, to deal with all of the issues in the consent decree.

The one thing that is tremendous here is that this commissioner also, and our prior commissioner's familiar with the consent decree. As an attorney, she knows what the court is requiring for us to do, and we will work with her and she will work with the Law Department to ensure that we fulfill those obligations with the court.

Mayor Adams: [Inaudible]. And I'm pretty sure you will get it in a statement by — I want to be properly quoted — is this the monitor or special monitor, Fabien?

Deputy Mayor Fabien Levy, Communications: [Inaudible.]

Monitor? Yes, just came out. And basically, in essence: the appointment of the acting commissioner along with the acting general counsel and acting deputy general counsel are welcome and appear to reflect an attempt by the city to alter its approach to managing the Nunez court orders by prioritizing transparency and by making a renewed commitment to consultation and collaboration. And so you'll get the full brief of their report.

Listen, I know some of us believe Rikers can't get fixed. I know some of us have dug in. We wrote a countless number of stories about it, there are countless number of advocates that have weighed in, and they should continue. We're responsible for keeping people safe in the Department of Correction in Rikers Island, so we got it.

Our role is to show you how we can get it right. We can get it right. Rikers can be fixed. Rikers has been… It has been abandoned for decades — decades. I believe we're in the right place to move in the right direction. And all those who want to move with us, we're here to be partners in that, and I think the comments from the monitor is a reflection on the spirit that we're bringing to this.

Question: Two questions for the commissioner. You had mentioned you want to be in compliance with the monitor agreement. I was wondering if you could tell us specifically are there areas that you still think that the department's out of compliance on that you want to fix?

And then secondly, could you tell us what you feel like is contributing to the number of deaths on Rikers Island this year?

Commissioner Maginley‑Liddie: So, in terms of the consent judgment, we have the current motion papers that they're filed for contempt, and we're evaluating those provisions to determine whether or not we are in contempt. But what I will tell you that we have made significant progress under this administration and we will continue to build on the momentum to achieve the reforms that are necessary under the consent decree.

Question: And then could you… The second question. Could you tell us what you think is contributing to the number of deaths on Rikers this year?

Commissioner Maginley‑Liddie: Like the mayor said numerous times, when people come in to custody we get them how they are, right?  So, if people have illnesses, that's how they're coming into custody. We provide care, custody and control and we work with our partners at H + H to ensure that they receive the medical care that they need.

Question: Thank you. Commissioner, two questions. I'm wondering, the monitor has said there has been a history of a lack of transparency with the DOC: hiding information, not being forward with information that they request. I'm wondering what will you do to correct that or can you commit to transparency with the monitor?

And then my second question is about mental health. There’s a great number of people on the island that have mental health issues, as the mayor often points out. More than 20 that have died since 2021 have had mental health issues. And many of the deaths have been found because guards have failed to do their proper inspections and that thing? I'm wondering if you can say what will you do differently to deal with mental health on Rikers Island?

Commissioner Maginley‑Liddie: So, your first question. Can you just repeat your first question?

Question: Sure, the… The monitor has talked about the lack of transparency even sort of not giving over information that they've requested. And I'm wondering if you are going to commit to being more transparent and then what might you change?

Commissioner Maginley‑Liddie: So, let me just say, the monitoring team and I have had a relationship for the last eight years and as an attorney, I comply with the provisions of the consent decree and the related orders, and I will continue to do so.

On the second question, just so you know, when there's a death in custody there's a joint action review that is done between the department and our partner, CHS, and we evaluate each case to determine the issues around that process. We've actually fortified that process with outside experts and consultants, and the monitoring team has actually given us acknowledgement as to the change in that process. And we will continue to do that.

Mayor Adams: Hold on, Jeff asked a question about mental health.

Commissioner Maginley‑Liddie: Well, the mental health process, that is the process that we undergo when we're reviewing those cases and to determine what were the sort of gaps, right?  And with mental health, we're going to continue to work with our partners and CHS to ensure that people get the appropriate care that they need when they come into custody.
   
Mayor Adams: Get this last question because if we don't she'll talk about me.
  
Question: Congratulations, commissioner.

Commissioner Maginley‑Liddie: Thank you.

Question: One of your roles within the DOC over the years has been to help guide reforms. Can you give us some specifics of reform efforts that you've pushed for through the years and what the ultimate outcome of those efforts have been?

Commissioner Maginley‑Liddie: So, my entire time at the Department of Correction, I started as an agency attorney, and that in itself at the very beginning of my tenure, we had the consent decree go into effect the next month. From that moment to this day, I continue to work on the consent decree and continue to ensure that we are in compliance.

Question: [Inaudible] specific like efforts or initiatives in terms of reform that you've spearheaded, and what's the outcome of those been?

Commissioner Maginley‑Liddie: So, a lot of it on the legal side is ensuring that if there is a provision in the consent decree, ensuring that the members of service, the entire DOC team is complying with the provision, that they understand what it is. And that is my ongoing role. That has been my prior role, and I will continue to do it as commissioner.

Mayor Adams: So before we depart, I just want to give everyone a weather update. We're expecting some severe weather, and I have Commissioner Iscol that's here as well if there's any specific questions on that. The current forecast calls for two inches of rain and significant winds gusting at 40 to 50 miles per hour. This will likely be heaviest between late Sunday night into early Monday morning.

Our emergency management team is issuing a travel advisory for Sunday into Monday. At this point we aren't expecting major impacts, but minor flooding is possible. And to be safe, agencies across the city are hard at work preparing for any potential impacts.

And we are not expecting the weather to affect Monday's commute. Sunday would be a good day to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel. If you need to travel please use our public transportation system. And as always, we're asking people to sign up to NotifyNYC. Thank you. Congratulations.