WHEREAS, the Rikers Island Correctional Center has been facing a severe staffing shortage in recent months and this is expected to continue;

WHEREAS, the conditions in the facilities are expected to continue to create an unsafe, life-threatening environment for both the inmates and the staff;

WHEREAS, a federal monitor appointed to oversee the Correctional Center reported a “pervasive level of disorder and chaos,” in the facilities in its Eleventh Report of the Nunez Independent Monitor;

WHEREAS, there is a need to facilitate the use of virtual court appearances to expedite proceedings and to reallocate corrections department staff from transportation and production of defendants to housing supervision and safety;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of the State of New York and Section 28 of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, do hereby extend the state disaster emergency as set forth in Executive Order 5, as continued by Executive Order 5.13, and do hereby continue the terms, conditions, and suspensions contained in Executive Order 5 and its successors, until December 1, 2022.