Washblog

How about a Google or Yahoo mailing list devoted to the subject?

Of course people were concerned that they would be looking at the Central Area, but Ted said they need seven acres which we don't have.

I said shouldn't we be questioning WHY we need more jails?  Nods all around the table.

Either they have to live in overcrowded and dangerous conditions (usually until a judge orders that the conditions are illegal) or their access to legal counsel and their families is significantly reduced when they have to be shipped to far off facilities.

Failing to build jails to house inmates humanely is not a statement against the penal code. I'm sorry, but it's irresponsible. It's just pretending the problem doesn't exist.  

When a person enters the penal system, it's an opportunity for positive intervention in a life that's gone wrong. That takes MORE investment, not less.

http://smarterneighbors.com/2008/05/27/opposition-to-jail-in-highland-park-is-getting-organized-why- not-build-the-jail-downtown-near-the-existing-one/

http://smarterneighbors.com/2008/06/05/public-forums-schedule-for-on-the-citys-proposed-low-rise-7-a cre-municipal-jail/

I think their approach, and Dina's approach (obviously everyone does not have the same motivations) is not NIMBY, but looking at what makes sense.

I humbly suggest that I don't think we should ship people away from home, but I DO think it's important to keep raising the issue of why we have to build more jails.

We underfund education.  The drop out rate is ridiculous.  We offer the meatgrinder of Iraq as an 'option'.  So -- there goes the next generation.  Seattle is turning into a city of the very rich and the very poor.

Also, I wonder now if we can return the favor to King County and make them keep the county prisoners out of our jail and courthouse?

As for building it downtown, Seattle has said they ruled that out simply because they don't want to build a highrise jail even though they have locations, and even own property, where that could be done.

Now let me explain just a few of the things you may not know.  This may not be a simple NIMBY issue as you seem to think it is.  For example, the Meyers Way site is rather isolated as it is the site of an old gravel pit and the only other thing there, just to the north of the jail site, is Seattle's Fire Training Center. That may make it sound good like a good location to you, but SHAG is going to be building 449 units of low and moderate income housing for elderly people just to the north of the Fire Training Center. Here's the permit. Now, I suppose it could be simply NIMBYism for people to be concerned about siting a jail and senior housing together in what is basically an isolated hole with no businesses, services, or other actiivty around 24 hrs. a day, but I think they have a right to expect some answers from the City about this and find out how the City plans to ensure the safety of the seniors living in this area.

There are also environmental concerns about this site.  Back when Seattle built the Fire Traning Center right nextdoor to this jail site, they ilegally filled in wetlands. You can read about that here and here. If you read the info on Seattle website about the jail sites, you will note they haven't yet done any outreach to environmental groups or even begun to study what environmental issues there are. Given how Seattle handled the building of the Fire Training Center, I think the neighbors have a right to be concerned.  What do you think?