Rikers Inmates Aid in Snow Removal

A work crew made up of recently released inmates from Rikers Island, get started removing snow from a bus stop on East Tremont Avenue. Photo by David Greene

New York City Department of Corrections officials were on hand as recently released inmates of Rikers Island joined officials from the Department of Sanitation in removing blocks of ice and snow from the streets on Saturday, March 18.

A New York City Department of Corrections bus brought the workers to East Tremont Avenue where they spent their day chopping ice and shoveling snow at intersections in the Mount Hope section. Photo by David Greene

The road crew chopped and shoveled intersections, bus stops and fire hydrants along East Tremont Avenue in the Mont Hope section. A second crew was spotted along Eastchester Road, but it was not known if that crew was made up of former inmates. Residents of the community applauded the assistance and at least one resident of Bedford Park believed that the workers were needed in that community. Stay tuned for a full report as we learn more about this unusual program.