67 Million More Reasons to Change the Law...
The state director of finance, together with Angelides' office, on 16 August voted for a $67 million draw for construction of the new Condemned Inmate Complex at San Quentin at a recent meeting of the Pooled Money Investment Board. Note to self--remember this when voting for Governor this fall. Marin IJ report here. State law requires condemned inmates, and any executions, to be held at San Quentin.
No voter approval required for lease revenue bond transactions--no matter how large. Current state budget line is $220 million, no firm cost estimate on production costs yet. This draw is enough to get sitework and utilities started, however.
"I fully expect them to end up going significantly over budget," Nation said. "Before they finish this, they'll have to come back for an additional appropriation."
I posted previously about the history of the death row expansion. The law must be changed before any meaningful dialog on location can be had. The state has given no alternatives, the residents of Marin County are silent, and our elected representatives are taking no action. The prison guards union is active politically--wouldn't the attraction of a new facility, with dramatically safer operating conditions, in a place where they can afford to live, make sense to them?
“There are no seasonal fluctuations, it is a non-polluting industry, and in many circumstances it is virtually invisible.”
(A California Department of Corrections official explaining some of the benefits of putting a prison in a rural area).
What are the numbers? Current scope is 764 cells, 6 180's as they call them, totaling 301,200SF of program at a budgeted cost of 220 million. Final costs will not be available until the drawings are put out for bid--What is the five step action plan to fix this current land use problem?
- Change the law. Previous attempt in 2005 can be downloaded here [.pdf].
- Recruit an optimal location via development/lease-purchase agreement that will acquire a modern facility in an area that values the economic development benefits.
- Decommission San Quentin and gain specific plan, EIR and site development approvals for the County's transit village option.
- Build alternate facility, develop transit village.
- Move In.
Nothing can happen until the law is changed.
Speak out now. Print out this letter, sign it and fax it in. What legacy do you want to leave?
Download this faxable form Letter to Supervisor Huffman.
Download this faxable form letter to Senator Carole Migden.
It is later than you think...
