A Few False Facts the pro-prison Supporters want you to believe

We seem to have entered a phase in local politics where the public voice simply seems to be an inconvenience to those in power. Something to deal with – rather than listen to.  And no, I’m not talking about what is happening in Wisconsin, although there are some parallels. No, I’m referring to our own elected leaders in Globe who have insisted on pushing through a private prison project despite significant citizen opposition.  Recently they paid $700 to put ads in the local papers identifying what they say are the “Facts” about a private prison in Globe. … Continue Reading

A Summary of the Prison Debate

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.  … Continue Reading

The Emerald City: A Risky Partnership

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: … Continue Reading

Globe Citizens Opposed to a Prison Town Pack the House

By: Linda Gross

The Globe City Council met a sea of opposition last night regarding a proposed private prison to be built in Globe as a part of the State’s RFP for 5000 more prison beds. Even though the State recently rescinded that RFP (on Friday), citing they no longer feel they need the beds, both the organizers of last nights opposition, as well as Mayor, Fernando Shipley believe it is not ‘really off the table’ … … Continue Reading

Local EDC under fire for performance and secrecy

By: TED LAKE
Staff Writer AZ SilverBelt

Reprinted with Permission: AZ SilverBelt June 30
For the first time since its inception in March 2007, the Southern Gila County Economic Development Corporation has two very aggressive leaders who want the organization to move now and get more jobs in the community by pushing for new private prison developments in town, but not factories or small industries.
However, public relations with SGCEDC in this big push to support a prison have been badly damaged starting with a quasi press conference with tense discussions with reporters, being told they could only ask one question and others not even getting a chance to ask their questions in full about the medium security prison complex, in particular more information about its developers. On top of this, Globe city councilman Terry Wheeler came out saying the EDC told him he wasn’t welcome at the early June press conference and to stay away.

Was that a smart idea, telling a city councilman who has voted in the past to give bed tax monies to the SGCEDC to get out of their business? … Continue Reading

The Prison Debate: Week Two. Public & Employee Safety

By: Linda Gross

(Update: Thursday)  This blog post was recently updated to reflect the correct source of the “Report on Prison Privatization” as being the Prison Corrections Institute”, and providing the actual PDF for readers to access.)

This week’s debate in the AZ Silverbelt, centers on public and employee safety.

Zache, speaking on behalf of the EDC who is backing the effort to bring a private prison to Globe, quotes Geoffrey Segal of the Reason Foundation, as identifying 17 studies that conclude “quality at private facilities is as good or better than at government-run facilities. Segal goes on to to tout the benefits of these private prisons ending with the statement that “there is clear and significant evidence that private prisons actually improve quality.”

Wow!  Sounds good. You can hardly question an organization with a name like the Reason Foundation, can you? Kinda like “Fly Safe Airways.” Just makes you want to book a flight.

Well, turns out the Reason Foundation which was established in 2004, is funded by the Private Prison Industry. We question politicians motives when we discover they are being bought off by special interests. Perhaps, before making a decision based on the claims of The Reason Foundation, and it’s spokesman, George F. Seagal, you might consider the roots of the organization.

In the same May 2010 press release by the Prison Corrections Institute refutes much of the Reason Foundation findings in a piece entitled: Report on Prison Privatization Plagued with Conflicts of Interest,Faulty data, Political Connections, PCI press release re Reason report 2010 (2)-2 . In it they also mention the American Correctional Association, also cited by Zache in this week’s debate as being a legit mechanism for accredidation. The PCI report differs on this point.

… Continue Reading

Prison Debate: Week One. Jobs.

Jim Moss Born at Miami Inspiration Hospital, 1955. Attended Globe-Miami schools through 8th grade. Graduate, Arizona State University; B.S., Political Science; B.A., Elementary & Secondary Education. Graduate, Northern Arizona University; Masters, Educational Leadership After career in Public Education, returned to hometown in 2003 with wife, Kelly, to create a new businesss: The Pickle Barrel Trading Post in Downtown Globe.

By: Linda Gross

The Public Debate Begins

This week the AZ Silver Belt begins a series of debates in the local newspaper over the proposed Prison project. Each week the SilverBelt will issue a question involving some aspect of the prison debate to Jim Moss,  who launched “Globe Citizens Opposed to Becoming a Prison Town”  and Bob Zache who sits on the Board of the EDC and has been picked by them to represent their side of this argument.

While there has been a few closed- door presentations and private assurances regarding the merits of the project, there has been little public debate. A piece by staff writer, Jesse Bryant, for Gila 1010.9  entitled Damage Control Press Conference Held by EDC, suggests a pattern of evasiveness by local officials, the EDC and the prison developer James Parkey and the Emerald Companies in addressing the local media and general public.

Bob Zache: Born and raised in Miami, Robert J. Zache graduated from Miami High School in 1955. After spending time in the U.S. Army and the mines, he graduated from ASU with a BA in Journalism, and went on to work for the Phoenix Gazette, Gila Pueblo College and the Arizona Silver Belt. He sits on the Board of EDC.

… Continue Reading