The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog

Protesters, led by Councilman James Sanders (D Laurelton), have repeatedly marched the same route to the small, windowless prison at 182 22 150th Ave. for almost a year. The prison is run by Boca Raton, Fla. based GEO Group (formerly Wackenhut), which is the second largest private prison corporation in the world.
Along the way in this extended battle over the prison, accusations have flown back and forth about the main parties involved: GEO Group, Sanders, Congressman Gregory Meeks (D St. Albans), and even the neighbors who participate in the periodic rallies.
Sanders, who, as a city legislator would have little sway over the prison’s federal contract, has been repeatedly accused of organizing the rallies as a means of pursuing Meeks’ congressional seat.
“It’s the same people who come every time,” said GEO spokesman Martin McLaughlin, who described the rallies as politically motivated and stale. “This is not a new thing. As long as you papers keep covering Sanders, he’ll keep going out and protesting. He’ll keep having a good time getting in the paper.”
Sanders bristled at the accusations, describing his involvement as one of moral and community obligation. “How long are they going to run around with that one?” he asked of GEO. “They accused me of running for office last year. Well, November has come and gone, but they’re still saying the same thing.”
Sanders added: “I refuse to believe that people can’t do things without having ulterior motives. We can do things just because they’re right.”
Sanders said the protests were targeted mainly at the federal government, and that frequent protests were necessary to ensure that both GEO and the U.S. Marshals Service—which holds the contract—know that the community continues to be dissatisfied. He added that the fact that GEO was not able to expand the prison last April showed that mobilizations were effective.
Meeks, who as the congressman representing the area is in the best position to negotiate with GEO and the marshals about the contract, has also come under fire. “This is my sixth march, and I haven’t seen (Meeks), he hasn’t been to any of these,” said resident Joann McCants, flanked by her four children. “He should be here.”
Meeks’ spokesman Brian Simon said that the congressman’s schedule was too full to attend the protests, but emphasized that the rallies are important. “It really strengthens the congressman’s voice when the rallies continue,” he said.
Simon also strongly denied allegations that Meeks was not working hard enough to shut down the prison after receiving a $1,000 campaign contribution from GEO last year. “That was an unsolicited contribution to the congressman,” Simon said. “That has not influenced the congressman’s position on this issue … he’s still against the prison, and he has never wavered from his position (against GEO): ‘I don’t want you here.’”
GEO and its predecessor company have operated the prison in Springfield Gardens since 1997. It previously held immigrants awaiting deportation, but now holds up to 216 federal prisoners awaiting trials or transfers.
The company’s contract expires at the end of June, and protesters want to make sure that the contract isn’t renewed. Opponents worry that the prison is decreasing their property values, that it is unsafe, that the neighborhood needs schools far more than a prison, and that GEO is a poor community partner.
“That company has not done one thing to contribute or reach out to the community,” said Barbara Brown, who chairs the Eastern Queens Alliance and has been working with Meeks to stop the prison. “GEO is making money off the misfortunes of other people.”
GEO maintains that it contributes to the neighborhood’s vitality. “We spend a lot of money in this community,” said McLaughlin, noting that the prison has an annual payroll of $6.5 million, and has hired 35 percent of its employees from Southeast Queens. “We hire from the area. We make a big contribution to the community.”
Brown disagreed, as did many at Saturday’s protest.. “Don’t dangle jobs in front of me to say that’s why you should be here,” Brown said. “This area is a middle class community where most people are already gainfully employed.”
Some residents fear that GEO will use the time before its contract expires to influence government officials to let them stay and expand. “They want to make this whole area around here into a prison complex,” charged former Assembly candidate Michael Duvalle, angrily pointing to GEO’s recent purchase. “And people are going to start moving away from here.”
Despite McLaughlin’s charge that the rallies were stale, it did not seem that way to the 40 participants in Saturday’s defiant and hopeful rally.
Chanting “GEO must go!” as they walked back to their cars, neighbors vowed to continue marching every few weeks until the prison is removed from the barren stretch of 150th Avenue, only a few blocks from Springfield Gardens’ bustling park and tidy homes.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17475312&BRD=2731&PAG=461&dept_id=