Putting kids where retailers won't go

I read one of the most bizarre stories recently in a local Brooklyn newspaper.

The city wants to open a new middle school — in jail.

Developers responded so weakly to a city invitation for ideas for retail and residential use at the soon-to-reopen Brooklyn House of Detention that the city is now considering putting a middle school in the space.

Seriously? As one participant quoted in the article said, "It's bizarre. Retailers don't want to be in the building, yet [they] would put our kids there?" I mean, I know most kids might consider middle school jail, but isn't this taking it too far?

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