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July 24, 2008
CA: Farmland vs. prison land for county
"The prison will not support local economy, nor will it bring jobs. In her study, "Building a Prison Economy in Rural America," Tracy Huling states that new prison jobs in rural areas are largely filled by transfers from other prisons, due to seniority and job requirements that locals don't have. She adds that fewer than 20 percent of new prison jobs in California go to locals. This means that prison employees will commute to the country from other areas, increasing traffic and CO2 emissions."
Farmland vs. prison land for county
Daily Democrat
07/24/2008 08:29:37
The Yolo County Supervisors want to place a prison on pristine agricultural land in Yolo County. While a "rehabilitation center" may be a good idea, the proper home for it is in an industrial area.
The proposed site for the new prison is either Zamora or Dunnigan. This is a waste of prime agricultural land, which many of the supervisors swore they would preserve when running for office. We will never be able to reclaim that land, as prisons only persist and expand.
The prison will continue to deplete the diminishing groundwater reserves of the farmers and families living in Zamora and Dunnigan. A portion of the area has already experienced a decline in ground elevation due to the collapse of the aquifer. This has occurred with a limited amount of people using the water. Imagine what will happen when a prison is constructed.
The prison will not support local economy, nor will it bring jobs. In her study, "Building a Prison Economy in Rural America," Tracy Huling states that new prison jobs in rural areas are largely filled by transfers from other prisons, due to seniority and job requirements that locals don't have. She adds that fewer than 20 percent of new prison jobs in California go to locals. This means that prison employees will commute to the country from other areas, increasing traffic and CO2 emissions.
Several hundred residents of Zamora and Dunnigan came to the last "informational" meeting to voice their opposition to the construction of this prison on our farmland. However, it is easy to ignore such small communities. We need help from the citizens of Woodland.
Aug. 5 is the last Supervisor's meeting for public input.
The only way the construction of this prison will be stopped is if you take 30 seconds of your time to tell the supervisors you elected to vote against this assault on our groundwater, farmland, and our rural country life.
Before turning the page of this newspaper, please leave a brief message or send a quick email stating your opposition. Below is their contact information. Something as simple and direct as "I don't want the prison located on farmland in Yolo County" will get the message across. Thank you for helping the farmers and townspeople in northern Yolo County preserve our land.
JACK REXROAD, Zamora
http://www.dailydemocrat.com/letters/ci_9983000
Posted by lois at July 24, 2008 06:08 PM