Jacob Geanous

The city’s potter’s field, the final resting place for thousands killed by COVID and AIDS, is now overseen by the Parks Department amid visions of creating the nation’s largest municipal cemetery. But a $33M contract to a firm without cemetery experience, under the watch of an ex-Rikers captain, is raising concerns.

Scientists studying coronavirus in local wastewater say that city environmental officials initially had “zero willingness to help explore this potential public health risk.” Officials stress that the findings are preliminary.

Mayor’s comments followed investigation by Columbia Journalism School and THE CITY that identified three men who died after contracting the virus in Department of Correction custody — but were not counted in the official death toll.

THE CITY and Columbia Journalism School identified six men who died after contracting coronavirus while in Department of Correction facilities. In an eerie echo of New York nursing homes, the department did not count deaths following release.