Washblog

NO JAIL: Neighbors Opposing Jail At Inappropriate Location


This is what democracy looks like; The next step remains to be seen. Yesterday the City of Seattle held the first public forums on proposed City Jail sites made public last month. City Reps, PR reps, and reporters got an earful from residents of Highland Park, White Center, Riverview, High Point, Georgetown & South Park.

My neighbor Laura Drake set the tone for the evening with a FIERY DIATRIBE that drew noisy cheers, befitting her experience as an actress. SEE A 2-MINUTE VIDEO at West Seattle Blog. Thanks WSB!

Continued below:


Above: Residents listen skeptically to City Reps as they show slides of attractive jail facilities in other states, and repeatedly refer to the "gold standard" in our state, the squeaky-clean Kent Regional Justice Center - although that facility includes courts, which the proposed jail in our area does NOT plan. The City Rep Doug Carey stated that Mayor Nickels dislikes this project terribly - it's his LEAST favorite. The theme of the subliminal rumble that followed that remark seemed to be, Cry me a f%**%@ river Mr. Mayor.

About 150 neighbors were told to choose one spokesperson at each of 15 tables to voice their concerns to the city, for the record. Those fifteen spoke boldly, knowledgeably, explicitly and passionately. The testimony was videotaped by the SEATTLE CHANNEL and should appear on that site eventually. If not, I'd like to know why not.


Above and below: Attendees discuss and summarize their points of concern before selecting a spokeperson at each table to be given 5 minutes on the mike.


The first spokesperson, Rory Denovan, Vice-Chair of HPAC, set a precedent. After stating the ten or so points of opposition discussed by his group-including problematic zoning issues - he was asked to boil it down to the 5 points we'd been asked to make. He said no - he'd let the statement stand as is (applause). Everyone else did the same.

Above: The second speaker was the HPAC Chair, Dorsal Plants. (By the way, that's a KOMO Reporter in red. TV news granted attention to Laura Drake's fine rant as well, but aired only a 10-second crescendo, making her sound slightly unhinged.) Dorsol made a number of points, but drew cheers after stating what we all knew: that the low economic status of surrounding communitities was a strong factor in choosing a suitable jail site, and cited a study (from the city's own website) that such a facility DID downgrade communities.

Another speaker was Becca Fong, enviromental expert, who cited studies that uindicated the unsuitability of the location because of watershed issues and liquifaction risk (in case of earthquake.


Above: Becca Fong of HPAC writes down talking points of group before speaking.

Several mentioned that there are only a few entrances to West Seattle - a peninsula. The Viaduct and the South Park bridge will be coming down in the near future. Transportation is expected to be a major difficulty, even without the extra traffic the jail would bring.


Above: Former Chair Blair Johnson with No Jail sign. I designed the logo with input from the Publicity Committee members. So: We've decided against this: in favor of the new logo.
At rear is Steve Shay, WS Herald reporter, with HPAC members.

Back to the litany of protest: Several speakers mentioned the high-density low-income senior housing planned very nearby.

One mentioned the Duwamish tribe's historical site on this land that may include artifacts.

Several mentioned the lack of facilities and services that newly released inmates might need.


Above: Rebecca Chu, HPAC Volunteer Coordinator, speaks to the city. One elected official, 11th District Rep. Zack Hudgins, was present. Several speakers noted that the City Council members should be here to see this, as well as the Mayor.

Were there any pro-jail residents at the meeting? Decidedly NOT, although we DO know at least one such person, among the "community leaders" that City consulted during their decision process - although he lives three miles from the site. He's going around telling neighbors to expect positive economic development to spring up because of the jail. I wonder what that might be. A spankin' new Dunkin' Donuts to accomodate the increased police traffic? A fashion boutique or café for the convenience of the newly released misdemeanants or the Corrections Officers' lunchtime leisure?

If I were the city's guy Doug Carey, I think that I'd throw in the towel after hearing hours of such impassioned protest, but unlike us volunteers, he's getting well paid for his time - so are the PR folks - so they hung in there.


Above: 34th District Dems memmbers Liz Giba of White Center, who opposes both Annexation and jail site, and Les Treal of High Point.


Above: HPAC's Evie Knoke and Carolyn Stauffer, Volunteer Coordinator, introduce young sons to each other. Not all that relevant to the story - but cute.

MORE INFO:
HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE website
with all the facts and action items

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Poll

Feedback?
Good story and pictures
You're a bunch of NIMBYs. I'd welcome a jail.
You can't fight City Hall. The Jail is a done deal.

Votes: 11
Results | Other Polls
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I'm sorry, but a responsible government has to put its criminals in jail. So it needs jails to put criminals in. If we don't have jails to put criminals in, they won't be in jail.

Did any -- any single person -- have a different solution on where to put a new jail? One that was not likewise being protested from one of the myriad anti-jail neighborhood groups?

No one wants a jail, treatment plant, halfway house, etc. in their neighborhood -- and the definition of "their neighborhood" can grow as large as they need to.

Sad fact is, everyone lives in a neighborhood.

Perhaps the expedient solution is to have all the leaders of the NIMBY groups draw straws, and the short straw gets the jail, and that's it and that's that.

Here's the problem. If we don't have enough jail space, then criminals will be let out early to make sure every criminal gets in jail. That means more criminals on the streets -- instead of in a secure building.

I'm sorry, but it's a small mind that fights this hard to keep criminals out of jail. Sure, we have a problem in that we have too many jailable crimes. But until we fix that issue, we need space to put all criminals.

How often do criminals really break out of prison? How many escapes from KC Jail or Kent Justice Center or the detention facility in Seatac? Is a jail a real security threat to residents, or is that just a bogeyman?

Arguments with merit back themselves up with facts and evidence, not demagoguery and fearmongering.

by romulusnr on Fri Jun 27, 2008 at 05:24:16 PM PST

* 1 none 0 *


Below the email addy is an excerpt from his latest newsletter.

richard.conlin@seattle.gov

OPTIONS FOR SEATTLE JAIL

The City of Seattle has begun the process of siting a jail. The City has been forced to do this because King County has told Seattle and the suburban cities that the County is running out of jail space and will no longer provide jail beds, even though the cities pay the full cost for each inmate that King County houses. The City of Seattle has experimented with a contract with Yakima County, which has not proven to be cost effective.

Recently the King County Council indicated that they would like to reconsider the decision regarding the use of King County facilities. While we welcome this initiative, Seattle would need an extension of our contract for a meaningful number of years, and to date the County has only offered a two year extension. That would not be enough to allow us to stop proceeding with our search for a jail site.

The City is also talking with a group of suburban cities about the idea of jointly siting a facility. This would create some economies of scale. Seattle has told the suburban cities that we would only be willing to enter into such an alliance if the suburban cities identify possible sites in their areas. If they are willing to do so, then the universe of possible sites would be expanded. However, this would mean constructing a jail that would be about 50% larger than a Seattle only facility, so, if a Seattle site is chosen, the resulting facility will be larger than if the City constructed a jail on our own.

Right now, the City is considering four possible sites, two in the north end (on North Aurora near Bitter Lake and in Interbay), and two in the south (near the south end of the First Avenue Bridge and adjacent to the City's Joint Training Facility, near Highland Park). These sites were selected as finalists from among 35 that were considered because they were large enough for the proposed facility and have good transportation connections to downtown Seattle. Based on a review of the operations of high-rise jails (such as King County's downtown jail) and low-rise ones (such as the Kent Regional Justice Center), the City has determined that there are significant cost efficiencies from building a low-rise facility, thus requiring a relatively large site. No final decision will be made on a site until the City has definitive word from King County. If the City is able to come to an agreement with the suburban cities, there would be additional sites on the table.

No neighborhood is going to enthusiastically welcome having a correctional facility located nearby. However, it is possible to have such a facility with little or no impact on the surrounding community. A good example is the Kent Regional Justice Facility, which is located adjacent to both residential and commercial buildings. Any jail would be designed to minimize traffic, noise, and visual impacts on the surrounding community. The persons incarcerated under city laws are awaiting trial or serving short sentences for misdemeanors, and, even in the extremely unlikely event of a breach of security, not a major public safety problem.

The universe of sites under consideration will not be revisited until there has been a resolution of the questions concerning King County and possible suburban city participation. Before any final site is selected, there will be additional public process and a review of all of the environmental, transportation, and land use issues associated with each site. The City's goal is to have a decision, if at all possible, by the end of 2008.

by eridani on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:38:02 AM PST

* 6 none 0 *


No one wants a jail in their neighborhood...we all know that...how about we build housing for recently released instead. that way, we will know where the people on probation are instead of telling a addict or abuser to live under a bridge. doesnt anyone understand that until we give them jobs and homes jails/prisons will continue to be built for returnees because they have no help?? we as a society are responsible for the wellbeing of all and that includes people that have made mistakes...even you tho you didnt get caught...

by moirao on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 07:51:02 AM PST

* 7 none 0 *


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