Kelly Moss and Sarah Bernstein turn in the petitions to Globe City Clerk, Gina Paul on Wednesday.

Yesterday, the grassroots citizens group which has been called “…one of the most effective and organized yet truly grassroots groups out there” turned in over 1000 petition signatures of registered Globe voters to Globe’s City Clerk, Gina Paul.

The petitions were part of a Citizen’s Ballot Initiative to force Globe’s Mayor and Council to put the contentious issue of a large private prison to a vote, instead of letting a small handful of leaders speak for everyone.

Although the group only needed 582 valid signatures, they gathered over 1000 in just ten days to place the 2 initiatives on the ballot next March.  Globe City Clerk, Gina Paul has 20 days to review all the signatures and confirm the final count, but says she believes it will take 4-5 days.

Both petition folders were counted twice for accuracy.

The citizens group engaged the services of Rhonda Barnes with Perkins Coie LLP to help draft the language of the initiatives. Barnes specializes in election law. Volunteers were trained to follow exacting rules of who could and couldn’t sign and Citizens Opposed feels confident that a high percentage of signatures will be validated. Over 40 volunteers helped to gather signatures over the ten day period.

This is the first Citizen’s Ballot Initiative in Globe’s history and promises to reinforce the American ideal of one man/ one vote. Something we can all celebrate this July 4th!

Can Citizens force a vote on a controversial plan to bring a Private Prison to Globe?

A group of local citizens gather in front of United Jewelry in downtown Globe to launch a petition drive to get 2 ballot initiatives on the March ballot.g

No ballot initiative has ever been done in the 19 years that Globe City Clerk, Gina Paul has been at her post. Its easy to see why. Ballot initiatives, like so much of our political process has gotten cumbersome and expensive , and few have the tenacity and dedication to see such a process through. However, the grassroots organization which launched their opposition to a private for-profit prison to be built in our community has shown just such tenacity, and this morning, they officially launched a Citizens Initiative which will require 580 signatures to be placed on the ballot in March.  See Initiatives Here:Ballot Initiatives

There are two initiatives in accordance with the law and the way these things have to be written. Each initiative can only pertain to one issue, so one initiative is titled: “Voters Must Approve New Prison in Globe Act” and a second initiative is titled: “No City Resources Spent on New Prison Act.” The language of both initiatives have been carefully drafted to put voters in the drivers seat when it comes to siting a new prison or using local infrastructure and resources for a new prison in our community. This is a big decision which will impact the community going forward and should not be left in the hands of a few elected officials who think they know best.

Jim Moss explains the petition drive and the ballot initiatives to a crowd of 40 who had gathered for the launch.

Both exclude correctional facilities owned or operated by the City or County Jail or Gila County Sheriffs’ office.

There has been much debate over the issue of a prison, and while a few City and County leaders like to point to “a silent majority” without any proof of such support, the Citizens Opposed have gathered thousands of signatures and postcards from those firmly opposed. Still, the most democratic and clear path to settle this issue of how our resources are to be used and whether a prison is the best ‘economic development’ idea anyone can come up with for our community….is a VOTE. Your Vote.

The Ballot Initiative will allow every registered voter to weigh in on this issue. As it should be.

So whether you are for or against a private prison here, remember that by signing the petition you’ll help put this issue to a vote in March, and that friends and neighbors is good old fashioned American Democracy in action!

The Ballot Initiative will give registered voters a voice.

Press Release: Citizens Opposed   We are reprinting in it’s entirety to share with our readers.

Public Information/Press Release

TWO Ballot Initiatives are being launched by Citizens of Globe, AZ who do not want their
community to become another rural Arizona Prison Town.

These TWO Ballot Initiatives are closely related, but have distinct purposes. (see attached)

The first Ballot Initiative is titled, VOTERS MUST APPROVE NEW PRISON IN GLOBE ACT. It
requires Voter approval for any new prison constructed within Globe’s City Limits.

The second Ballot Initiative is titled, NO CITY RESOURCE SPENT ON NEW PRISON ACT. It
requires Voter approval for any municipal resource to be spent or utilized for any new prison
construction project within, or outside Globe’s jurisdictional boundaries.

Citizens have launched these TWO Ballot Initiatives because local elected officials refuse to
pass a Resolution that would prohibit a 1000 to 2000 – bed proposed private prison from being
constructed in the Globe community.

Nearly a year ago, citizens began speaking out in opposition to a proposed private prison
project. More than 2,500 area residents signed a Declaration of Opposition to such a prison,
and implored elected officials to pass a Resolution that would safeguard their community
from the private prison ‘industry’. These elected officials refused to act on behalf of their
constituents. Globe residents continue to ask, “If they don’t represent the citizens of this
community, then who do they represent?”

The Arizona Constitution provides for citizens to “Initiate”, or propose laws or measures that
are enacted by a direct vote of the people. The citizens of Globe are now taking action to
accomplish what their elected representatives refused and failed to do.

Citizens of Globe must gather 582 signatures to place these TWO Initiatives on the ballot at the
City’s next regular election in March, 2012. Registered Voters of Globe, Arizona will ultimately
decide the outcome of this very important community issue.

The Committees organizing these TWO Ballot Initiative Campaigns are receiving legal counsel
from the Phoenix Law Firm, Perkins Coie, LLP. Attorney, Rhonda L. Barnes, can be reached at
602-351-8305 or RBarnes@perkinscoie.com.

June 3, 2011

Jim E. Moss, Committee Chairman

480-540-1279 or mossjim13@hotmail.com

s

Lindy Gravelle got a standing ovation last night from an appreciative crowd

The Globe-Miami Community Concert Series wrapped up a stellar season last night with a great performance by Lindy Gravelle, a singer song writer who grew up in Oregon and began her singing career at age three. She had a band in the 80′s which opened concerts for Michael Martin Murphey, Commander Cody and Hank Williams, Jr.  And later in Nashville, as a songwriter, had her song “A Bottle of Wine and Patsy Cline” recorded by Marsha Thorton on MCA Records and reached the Billboard Magazine Country Top 40 chart. Another of her songs, “Exit 99,” was featured on Lorrie Morgan’s RCA Records’ gold-selling album Warpaint.

Performing at Miami Highschool Auditorium

Her performance last night included personal requests from her Globe-Miami hosts including “Funny Valentine” which she dedicated to her sister who was in the audience last night, and “The Music of the Night” from the Phantom of the Opera.  Gravelle is an accomplished pianist, as well as singer-songwriter, and this was evident in “Spanish Rain,” a piece written and produced by Gravelle.

Gravelle singing "Seat Up. Seat Down", a rendition of an on-going argument between Men and Women.

Yet, it was her performance of her own songs which really showcased her talent and rapport with the audience. In songs and lyrics, Gravelle took the audience from a nostalgic memory of childhood in “Smokin’ Candy Cigarettes,’ to the uproarisly funny rendition of “Seat Up. Seat Down” (You KNOW what that was about!), to my favorite, “The Right Side of the Grass,” which reminds us in these hard times to be grateful that we are not 6ft under.

Lindy Gravelle not only is a talented singer-song writer, but a warm and engaging entertainer who had last nights audience thoroughly wrapped around her finger.

Kip Culver, Jean Sipe and Lindy pull the winning tickets in a surprise raffle last night which netted 2 lucky ticket holders complimentary tickets for the Copper Spike Dinner Train.

Short Performance at the Train Depot: Gravel to be at Depot Saturday 26th

She will be coming BACK to the Globe community next Saturday to ride the Copper Spike Dinner Train and has agreed to a short performance in the Depot prior to boarding. So if you missed last nights performance, plan to get over to the Depot for a listen. It’s worth it!

As for the Globe-Miami Community Concert Series, they will be publishing next seasons line up and we will update the web page HERE with all the new information. Season Tickets are just $35 for an individual and includes ALL concerts.

Image via Wikipedia

The new RFP for more prison beds in Arizona is out and bidders will be expected to turn in their packages by February 24th.  Here in Globe, we don’t know who the bidders are at this point. We don’t know if the Emerald Companies who presented before the Globe City Council and EDC on the first go-round will be among the bidders this time. We don’t know even, if Globe is still considered as a site for contention. But what we do know is enough for continued concern and vigilance by all who want to protect this community from becoming another host for these ill-conceived projects.

The Mayor of Globe, Fernando Shipley and three of the six Globe Councilmen: Carmen Casillas, Mary Ann Uhl and Lerry Alderman voted last week to ignore a large majority of Globe and Gila County Citizens (2500+) and send a letter to DOC Director Charles Ryan telling him a “majority of Mayor and Council” were in support of a Private Prison.

In a 3-3 vote with Wheeler, Wilshire and Baker voting NAY, the Mayor broke the tie to give the letter of support a “majority.”  Hardly a resounding message.

In fact, Director Ryan would be well advised to know just how little support is actually contained in that letter.  That kind of ‘majority’ pales in the face of thousands of real citizens who have put their signatures, their faces and their facts on the line.

We know that the attitude of the three Council people – as stated by them at last week’s Council meeting- is dismissive and patronizing to the opposition. Uhl said she was “appalled” by the group’s questioning of the EDC, and Casillas commented that she thought these discussions with the public should be limited, noting that she has better things to do. Alderman accused the opposition group of presenting “lies by omission and veiled threats.”

Yet, in six months of public debate on this issue, none of the prison promoters including Mayor Fernando Shipley, EDC Director, Jerry McCreary, and Councilmen Alderman, Casillas nor Uhl have refuted any of the points made by the opposition with their own facts. Choosing instead to attack the members and tactics of the grassroots opposition. A group they now accuse of intimidating others. The same group which during the September presentation to the Council nearly 7 months ago, was heralded by the Mayor as one of the most civil, well-spoken, well-organized groups the Council had ever heard.

Funny how these charges of  “veiled threats” have arisen just in the last couple weeks. It appears that after 6 months of tone-deaf leadership in which a handful of pro-prison leaders have steadfastly refused to debate the merits of a private prison, they now find their voice to talk about some ‘veiled threats’ issued by the Opposition group. Weak!

The thing that is veiled here are the accusers’ facts. They can’t tell us – or anyone else it seems- just who was involved, or what was said. It apparently never seemed important enough to go to the Police, or confront the  organizers with this. Until last week. When they couldn’t think of anything else to say in the face of opposition except to scold and cast aspersions on those in the audience who have steadfastly opposed a Private Prison in Globe.

This week the DOC put out a new – and revised- RFP for 5000 beds. See Complete RFP Here

This RFP had been re-written in light of the Kingman fiasco just six months ago and has more stringent safety measures.

It also includes new language on page 36 which seems to cast doubt on whether Globe will even be considered as a viable site.

Page 37:

2.3.2
The Department has the ability to offer state-owned land for the purpose of this RFP. The following locations identified below along with the information provided on Attachment 10 can be used for the purpose of providing a response for the use of available state-owned land. The state-owned land identified within this section is the only state-owned land being offered for the purpose of this Request for Proposal. Offerors are cautioned not to include state-owned land that is not stated within this section as part of their offer.”

The locations identified within the section are: Florence, Lewis, Perryville and Yuma.

This language seems to preclude Globe, however in speaking with Barrett M, who is a Public Information Office with the DOC, he indicated that the language actually meant “State Land that is currently under DOC control. ” Really? It seems that the Department of Corrections- who is adept at writing RFPS – would have made the language clearer if that was the case. So what’s up?

This week a new report came out in the Arizona Republic on Kingman. www.azcentral.com/…/20110130kingman-prison-still-under-scrutiny0130.html

One of the “fixes” the State insisted on was beefed up monitoring. This is being accomplished by using more Corrections Department employees on site. But, as House Minority Chad Campbell says, ” …what’s the point of a private prison if we have to put (state corrections) personnel up there to make sure MTC is living up their obligations?”

Open Letter to Mr. Jerry McCreary, EDC Board President

From: Jim E. Moss, Globe Resident & Business Owner

Dear Mr. McCreary,

During CALL TO THE PUBLIC at the January 10 Globe City Council meeting, and through other public statements, you have raised several questions/issues that deserve a response.

Let me begin by saying that the SGCEDC, which you lead, is obviously comprised of very fine individuals trying to make positive decisions for our community.

Public policy debates can become overheated, and naturally it can be difficult to avoid personality clashes etc. Unquestionably, I have spoken out passionately for our position in this debate. Keep in mind — we the citizens, do not hold the ‘official’ reins of power. Therefore, in order to achieve our goal it has become necessary to build a grassroots coalition. In doing so,the political environment becomes lively, as the status quo is challenged. Democracy in action can get a bit testy — but we have attempted to conduct our entire campaign in a way that we can be proud of.

The disagreement so many of us have with the private prison proposal is not meant to be a personal affront to you or anyone on the EDC. That being said, I have found many of your statements and actions to lack credibility. So, here is my response.

Mr. McCreary, you asked, “What exactly is a Prison Town?” And, you referred to Florence, AZ as a true example — but, you asserted, “surely not Safford”. Do you recall the booklet we provided six months ago titled PRISON TOWN . (please, do not complain again that you did not receive a ‘Notebook’ – as they were widely distributed to Chamber/EDC Offices) Also, I have addressed this question previously by discussing the ‘stigma’ that social science research
attributes to small towns with a BIG prison presence. The label also reflects the reality of the many social side-effects that arise when a small rural community hosts a big prison. I have repeatedly talked about ‘proportion’ or ‘scale’ — that is, the bigger the prison population ratio in relationship to a town’s population — the more significant impact is felt. What impact? Impacts related to crime, juvenile delinquency, stressed social services, economic ‘opportunity

costs’, etc. Regarding Safford, AZ — whether or not it is now perceived as a ‘prison town’ I honestly do not know. I do know that the three correctional facilities located there consist of two State-run facilities and one Federal. No For-profit prisons — which is some consolation. I can recount a conversation with a retired pharmacist and his wife who lived in Safford for 15- 20 years, and who recently retired & moved to Globe. They were adamant when describing the negative effects on the Safford community as the prison population increased. It would be interesting and informative to speak with scores of long-time residents of Safford to learn if their observations are similar to the anecdote mentioned above. As for your assertion that Florence, AZ is a good example of a ‘prison town’ — not really. Actually, Florence qualifies as a ‘Prison Industrial Complex’ — a magnitude far surpassing the ‘prison town’ connotation.

Mr. McCreary, you questioned the relevancy of the social science research Abstract delivered to your office a couple weeks ago. You claimed this Washington State University study was “outdated”. Actually, this study titled: Prisons, Jobs, & Privatization: The Impact of Prisons on Employment Growth in Rural U.S. Counties 1997-2004 was submitted for publication in a professional journal in 2010. This was duly noted on the cover sheet submitted in your packet. I also offered to provide a copy of the entire text of this study. But, true to form during this entire 6-month debate/campaign — NOT ONCE has any ‘leader’ from your side requested ANY additional information. Nor, has anyone from your side offered ONE BIT of unbiased research, report, data, etc. to support your position. In fact, ‘leaders’ on your side have withdrawn into an ‘information cocoon’ — expressed ZERO interest in genuinely discussing
the contents, substance of the issues & concerns we have raised. In fact, several local public officials who supported a private prison implored you to provide solid information they could use to effectively rebut our assertions. What did you provide them? During the past 6 months, after repeated requests to elected officials — we received 4 sheets of paper from one Council Member that represented his/her ‘due-diligence’. All four pages were merely ‘talking points’ from the private prison promoters. No surprise. We have done our homework, and know that your side has very few legitimate sources to draw upon to defend your bold claims about any & all aspects of this issue.

Mr. McCreary, you have made several public statements that are simply not true.

For example, you claim that “Globe is currently using only half of its available water resources”. Can you back this up with documentation?

You claim that the financing of private prisons with Revenue Bonds is a good deal for taxpayers. Really? Are you not aware of the many examples across the nation of private prisons in financial difficulty, or in default of bonds that were issued? How about the private prison in Willacy County, Texas where prison promoters privately negotiated a 12% interest rate on a bond unbeknownst to taxpayers? Are you not aware that interest payments on Revenue Bonds are much higher than rates paid on General Obligation Bonds? And, in most cases, Revenue Bonds are ‘privately negotiated’, circumventing voter approval, which makes this sort of debt much less accountable to the taxpayer. Did you not review the five pages about ‘Bonding’ included in the ‘Notebook’ — or the September, 2010 Wall Street Journal’s Smart Money magazine article referencing the many private prison projects that have experienced financial
problems?

Is it any wonder we keep asking all of our local ‘leaders’ advocating for a private prison — Where’s your due-diligence? “Where’s the beef”? Where’s your leadership?

Mr. McCreary, you castigate “internet research” as though information gleaned on-line is inferior to what one might find at a public library. The fact is that the internet is equivalent to thousands of libraries, at your finger-tips, if one knows how to use the technology. What really matters, is how one approaches research. If you seek FACTS, if you seek information from a broad range of sources, then a consistent story-line begins to emerge. The story-line for private
prisons does not paint a pretty picture — regardless of which story path one pursues.

Mr. McCreary, you ignore or minimize the outrageous private prison scandals such as Hardin, Montana or Kingman, AZ as merely isolated incidents that would not happen in Globe. Although Hardin & Kingman do represent extreme examples, this does not discount the fact that the private prison industry has been plagued with all sorts of controversial events during its entire modern resurgence in America over the last 30 years. It seems that the obsession
with ‘easy money’ blinds for-profit prison proponents from seeking or accepting the truth.

Mr. McCreary, you have often publicly praised Emerald Co. as a “fine Operator”. On what do you base this claim? How can you disregard the scores of investigative reports that cast questionable shadows over so many of the private prison promoters and the corporations they represent? Are you unaware of the notorious reputations of private prison promoters& operators who have bribed public officials, sold false promises, and engaged in unethical
business practices? Have you carefully scrutinized all of the prison promoters associated with the proposed ‘Globe Project’? What did their background checks reveal?

Mr. McCreary, are you aware that the private prison industry lobbies the State and Federal Government to secure favorable treatment, and less regulation over their publicly funded enterprises? For example, the industry is not subject to Freedom of Information Act requirements. They operate in as much secrecy as possible, and thus are not accountable to Taxpayers in the same way that State-run facilities are.

Are you aware that the private prison industry’s claim that they can incarcerate inmates more efficiently & effectively than the State is bogus? The supposed 5 to 20% “Taxpayer Savings” has been shown to be a myth. And, this comparative analysis generally does not even address the enormous cost to the Taxpayer that accrues because of a burgeoning prison population — in large part due to the driving ‘market’ force to build more prisons and fill more beds.

Mr. McCreary, you have publicly exhorted the idea that the Globe prison proposal is so rock- solid because ‘our’ prison would not be built on speculation. The Globe For-profit prison would be locked into a contract with the State of Arizona, thus guaranteed a 90%+ occupancy. Seriously — are you unaware that private prison contracts are routinely altered, even canceled by State and Federal Governments? Do you really believe that IF the State of Arizona deemed it necessary to shut down a facility or sharply reduce its inmate population — that the private prison in Globe could not be adversely affected? That the profit-making enterprise you hail as rock-solid could not turn into an albatross?

The most disturbing aspect of hailing the virtues of a guaranteed State contract is the apparent lack of concern about the true mission of criminal justice in our society. This profit-driven mindset that focuses exclusively on maintaining a 90% + occupancy rate is diametrically opposed to what is truly in the best interest of a democratic society — namely to incarcerate fewer people. For both fiscal and social reasons, surely we want to imprison as few individuals
as necessary. This gets right to the heart of the philosophical objections to For-profit prisons. The criminal justice goals of a democratic society are simply not compatible with a profit-driven business model of incarceration. A State contract that aims to keep ‘our’ prison full to the brim so we can capitalize on a per diem payment & revenue stream to local governments —exemplifies what is so wrong with this public policy.

Your excitement, Mr. McCreary, about the economic feasibility of this project due to a State contract underscores the necessity of ‘filling beds’ to make this enterprise financially successful. It is precisely this mentality that enables the private prison industry to flourish. The business model, similar to the hotel industry, is about building more facilities (prisons) and filling more beds – period.

Of course, one big problem with this picture is that the ‘enterprise’ is financed and sustained with 100% Taxpayer dollars! The private prison industry has seduced policy makers at every level of government to endorse this creative form of taxation. The result is fiscal insanity! Look no further than Arizona’s $1 Billion Corrections budget. And — AZ State policy makers, aided & abetted by a handful of Globe officials, want to build 5,000 new prison beds! What
visionary leadership!

Mr. McCreary, you have stated that the private prison you want to bring to Globe will not be plagued with the mismanagement fiascos that are endemic in the industry. No way Globe could have a ‘Kingman incident’, you claim. Really? Are you not aware of the horrendous mismanagement track record of private prisons? Have you conducted any serious due- diligence, whatsoever? Where is the research on which you base your assumptions & beliefs?
Take a look at the News Release (attached) published by AZ Capitol Times dated December 3, 2010. I present this current report about a private prison in Idaho — NOT because it is a compelling story — NOT because it is out of the ordinary — No, I share this simply because this story crossed my desk today, as do similar stories about private prisons cross my desk on a frequent basis. It is the familiarity of such a story that is so disturbing.

And, Mr. McCreary, you have the audacity to assert that the City of Globe could actually exercise strict oversight to ‘our’ private prison! The City of Globe will have no more control over the operation of a private prison than it does over the production of copper at Freeport Mining Co.! Your misleading claim in this regard is inexcusable.

Mr. McCreary, your proclamation in the local newspapers that the EDC will be hosting ‘listening & dialogue’ sessions with the public over the next six months — with all due respect — is ‘a day late & a dollar short’! IF you, and the handful of ardent backers of a private prison would have hosted such events a year ago, you would have discovered early on that our community does not support this idea. If you had genuinely sought community input, from the beginning – — instead of trying to fly under the radar to avoid controversy — you would have undoubtedly learned what I have — that the vast majority of residents have serious concerns for all sorts of valid reasons.

Mr. McCreary, please provide a specific, prompt answer to the following questions. Who produced and paid for the ‘private prison for Globe’ Promo DVD that was shown at Dream Manor Inn back around June, 2010? Who wrote the script for this DVD? And, how on earth could you or your cohorts who appeared on this video proclaim with a straight face that the citizens of Globe-Miami are/were supportive, even “excited” about a private prison project?

Mr. McCreary, I must comment about the “EDC Looks for Workers” PSA you placed in both local newspapers last week. This ploy was quite unprofessional, and frankly smells like ‘false- advertising’. It is obvious that you were dangling an imaginary prison job to see how many recruits might emerge to join you at City Hall or County Complex and publicly declare, “We want a private prison job!” Good Luck.

Just one more page….

Mr. McCreary, lately you have been suggesting that opponents of your proposed private prison project are not thinking clearly, due to emotionalism and irrational fears. Not so. Fearfulness, if based on fact, is a healthy reaction. Area residents who are opposed to a private prison are
not experiencing wide-eyed terror — but rather, they are exercising prudent judgment based upon serious, fact-based concerns.

It is perfectly normal to possess a high level of concern due to:

1. The recognition that we have finite water resources, and want to allocate water to its best, positive use for our community.

2. An understanding that private prison jobs are poor quality, that high job turnover rate
(50%+) creates a dangerous work environment, and adds instability in the community.

3. The fact that a large inmate population does indeed attract negative elements such as drug trafficking, etc. to the host community. ** Remember the woman who aided the Kingmanbreakout ? She had been bringing heroin from PHX to Kingman for over a year.

4. The undisputed fact that private prisons ‘cut corners’ any way possible to make a lucrative profit for shareholders & corporate executives.

5. The fact that violence inside private prisons is a severe & chronic problem.

6. The fact that social science studies demonstrate there is an ‘opportunity cost’ to bringing a big prison to a small town — that it does tend to discourage many good business enterprises and families from locating there.

7. Public safety issues related to increased juvenile delinquency, etc.

8. The fact that increased incarceration rates are helping to bankrupt our State — that building more prisons & filling more beds = fiscal insanity.

9. The waste of local Taxpayer dollars on the pursuit of a private prison that most citizens do not want.

10. The unethical enterprise of incarcerating people for profit.

So please, Mr. McCreary, spare us your mocking admonition that we are reacting emotionally
out of misplaced fear.

In conclusion, I say again — my/our words or actions are not meant to be a personal affront. We know the EDC is comprised of very fine individuals.

The debate we are engaged in requires us to organize public opposition and demands that we respond swiftly & assertively to set the record straight. We intend to do so until we achieve the goal of protecting our community from the private prison industry.

Last week, in a Call to the Public, local residents and business owners once again voiced their strong opposition to what is seemingly a handful of elected leaders intent on bringing a for-profit prison to Globe. (click the headline to see video)  The following video shows former EDC Director Melissa Woodall speaking on behalf of the community in a video produced to convince the DOC that Globe wants a prison. At the time the video was made, almost no one in the community was aware that the EDC and City of Globe was even pursuing this idea. So it’s hard to know just who she is referring to when she says the “community is thrilled.”

It was a packed house at Monday nites' Council meeting in which the Mayor and 1/2 the council passed a measure to send DOC Director Charles Ryan a letter of support for a prison. The vast majority of people in the audience that nite were there to protest such an action.

PRESS RELEASE — 1-25-11

From:  Jim Moss, Spokesperson, Citizens Opposed to Becoming a Prison Town

A “silent majority” wants a big private prison in Globe, according to several elected officials.  Sound familiar?  That’s a similar claim Richard M. Nixon made prior to being impeached.

Globe’s Mayor and four Council Members voted down a Citizen’s Resolution calling for leaders to cease their pursuit of a private prison for Globe.  It is no surprise.  At least now we know for certain where they stand.  Mayor Shipley, Vice Mayor Wilshire, and Council Members Uhl, Casillas, &  Alderman decided long ago they wanted a private prison project regardless of what citizens of Globe say.  This group is joined by Supervisors Dawson & Pastor, and EDC President McCreary.  These Officials ‘circled the wagons’ long ago, determined to bring a big For-profit to our town. 

They purposefully tried to keep this prison project quiet to avoid public controversy.  Now they claim there is a “silent majority” of Globe residents who really want their grand prison project, but are “afraid” to come forward and speak out!  That’s right — they choose to represent an imaginary “silent majority” — instead of respecting the wishes of 2,500+ area residents who signed a Declaration that Opposes a private prison project.
We thank Councilmen Wheeler and Baker for standing up for democratic principles, and for their steadfast opposition to bringing a private prison to our community.

This action by the Mayor and Majority of Council is deeply disappointing.  From the very beginning, they failed to conduct careful due-diligence.  Now, they realize they cannot win the debate on the merits or substance of their case, so they have resorted to personal attacks and false accusations.  Conduct truly unbecoming of elected representatives.
Although, we had hoped this matter would be settled by now, there remains much work to do.  We will continue to build community coalitions, will fight for what we believe is best for our community, and we intend to achieve our goal of stopping a private prison.

Image via Wikipedia

This page is intended as a compilation of information including a time line of the events surrounding the issue of locating a private prison here in Globe. We are in the process of gathering all the information which has been put forth to this date; from local news reports, the EDC, Chamber of Commerce, Globe Mayor and Council, Citizens Opposed to a Private Prison, the prison operators who pitched the project to the City, and State and National reporting.

The purpose is to keep information about this topic available and fresh in readers minds’ since the issue is far from dead in the Globe community. The State pulled the earlier RFP simply to re-write some of the security specs in light of the Kingman escape. A new RFP for 5000 beds to be added to the State system will be put to bid (again) to private prison contractors in the coming weeks. 

Beginning with April 28th when the Emerald Companies and James Parkey first presented to the City Council there has been little evidence presented by those who support this project short of talking points provided by those selling the project. Namely, the Emerald Companies and James Parkey.  On the other hand, numerous reports at both State and National levels regarding the performance of private prison operators, and the economic model they promote, raise serious questions about the wisdom of placing a facility here in Globe.

Local & National Reporting on Private Prison Debate

February 5th : Councilman Terry Wheeler outlines opposition to Prison on gila101.9

June 9th: by Holly Sow AzSilverBelt: Companies behind project have questionable past

June 16th: By Andrea Marcanti Az SilverBelt: Prison Talks Continue

June 30th: by Holly Sow AzSilverBelt : SGEDC hosts luncheon for Private Prison. Oponents & Press Not Invited

July 7th: by Ted Lake/ Az SilverBelt “…statutes require as a next step for DOC to come to the city of Globe and conduct its own public hearing”

Aug 25th by Ted Lake/ Az SilverBelt”…efforts to add an additional 5,000 private prison beds has been stalled because of concerns which have developed on how the medium-security private prison was being operated in Kingman.”

September 13th: Presentation before City Council: Citizen’s Opposed:

September 13th the Globe City Council heard a presentation by the Citizen’s Opposed group. The presentation was one hour long and included statements from a dozen business leaders and local citizens regarding the specific objections to the proposed development of an additional 1000 bed prison in Globe.

(Sept 13th. ALSO the date Emerald Companies presented a letter from the State to the Globe Council indicating the RFP had been canceled. According to Az SilverBelt, Andrea Marcanti, (Oct 8,2010) The information about the RFP was not published in the Phoenix papers until Sept 27th. Could it be that the Globe City Council got this information early to try to take some wind out of the opposition, saying as they did at the meeting, that the issue was now a moot point? Thanks to the SilveBelt for pointing out the chronology on this one.

September 15th: Letter to the Editor:  Linda Gross

September 16th: KIKO Blogspot Globe Politicians still want Prison. Where does that leave the citizens?

September 19th: Letter in response to Ken Bernstein: Mayor Fernando Shipley

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The Arizona SilverBelt hosts a 4-week debate with both sides weighing in on a question of the week supplied by the Silver Belt editor.

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Creative Financing of Globe’s proposed private prison has most scratching their head The Emerald Companies have supplied the following chart to show how the prison would be financed. Except no one seems to beable to truly understand it. The City Council wants citizens to believe this will bring a “clean industry” and easy money without costing taxpayers a thing. Yet the experience of other communities have proven otherwise.

The Leaky Argument for Private Prisons: The State Corrections agency apologizes for not overseeing the Private agency who was in charge of guarding the Kingman escapees.

Channel 15 reports on the lax security by Management & Training Corporation who had a contract to operate Kingman’s 3000 bed prison

Links re: For Profit Prisons:  Statewide issues regarding Private Prisons within the last 2 years

July 5th 2010  Most supporters of for-profit prisons — in particular, the companies that build and operate them — contend that the case in favor of …

“…But experts and academic research during the past 20 years have raised serious doubts about the benefits of private prisons…The facts are that private vendors compromise safety and security to keep down costs,” Deitch said in an address to a criminal-justice conference in Honolulu last October. “They save money by hiring inexperienced staff at the low end of the wage scale. When you’ve got inexperienced, poorly trained staff, you’ve got a recipe for security and safety problems in a prison.”

May 2010  Is Wisconsin turning into a huge Prison

“…Wisconsin corrections officials sound like they’re ready for a change. “One simply has to look at the data to see that community supervision is a cost-effective and efficient way of supervising nonviolent offenders. We’re simply incarcerating too many people,” state Corrections Secretary Rick Raemisch told the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. He says incarceration costs $30,000 a year, but probation only requires $3,000.”

December 2009   Oklahoma gears up to fight the spread of Private Prisons in their State

“in an effort to educate and activate state employees whose jobs are being threatened by private prisons.” Dawe told OPEA members that public corrections professionals, unlike those who work for private prisons, are judged by the safety of their prisons and the impact on their communities. Private prison CEOs are judged by profit,” Dawe explained. “Private prison operators don’t want fewer inmates; they want more. They don’t want early release, drug courts or alternative sentencing. They want warm bodies in their cells.”

May 9, 2009  PBS reports:  Prisons for Profit .

- In 2007, 37,800 people were behind bars in Arizona, representing a 5.3% increase over the previous year.
- Arizona spent $895 million in fiscal year 2007 on corrections.
- For every dollar spent on higher education, Arizona spent 77 cents on corrections.

Links re: Private Prison Industry in ARIZONA

July 2010 Governor Jan Brewers ties to CCA (Corrections Corp of America) Burn like Neon

Are Private Prisons Worth The Savings? KPHO5 “Security Guards don’t receive retirement benefits…Are not bonified corrections officers”

Rachael Maddow discusses Private Prisons in Arizona

Related articles

Prison Finance: (The Wall Street Journal: Smart Money)

• The perverse incentives of private prisons (economist.com)
• What’s costlier than a government run prison? A private one (money.cnn.com)

By Vince Yanez

By: Linda Gross

Several months ago, the Globe City Council  in a 4-2 vote gave the green light to Private Prison developers; the Emerald Companies and James Parkey , to bring a private prison to Globe as part of  a DOC plan to build 5000 more beds in the State.

Since then, some who voted for the “green light” have admitted that they have reservations including:

1: They don’t believe the numbers which Parkey and Emerald are presenting in their package. IE: The number of jobs, the amount of revenue, or the ease at which “beds will be filled.”

2: Therefore they concede it is a “risky” venture to those who choose to invest in this project – but they make the distinction between the investors and the “rest of us” who will get all the benefits and none of the risk.

3. Yet, they admit they don’t trust Emerald Companies and James Parkey.

And still, the City Council wants to move forward with bedding down with the very same Emerald Companies & James Parkey.

This determination to build a private prison on our back doorstep with these people appears to confirm a lack of good old fashioned business sense.

Anyone in business who has ever considered bringing on a partner knows how difficult this can be. Most partnerships are formed to fill a need in the business; talent, financial or otherwise. And many a business has made the mistake of taking on a partner because it seemed to be expedient at the time, only to find their problems compound.

While some partnerships do result in a win-win for both parties, others result in ugly ‘divorces’ as business owners discover their new found partner more concerned with what they are getting OUT of the business than what they can put INTO the business.

Historically, this appears to be the blueprint for those selling their services to develop and manage for-profit prisons.  It would seem then that all signs point to saying NO to this proposed partnership. It is simply bad business to enter into a business partnership with people you don’t trust from the beginning.

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• For-Profit Prisons, Ctd (andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com)