OUR TOWN’S PRIVATE PRISON FIASCO

By: Jim Moss

Globe is not becoming a ‘Prison Town’ any time soon.

The ‘official’ word is that Emerald Co. failed to secure state land for their prison proposal.  Does this mean that Emerald Co., the EDC, Globe’s Mayor and majority Council, and Gila County Supervisors —- did not perform the required due-diligence?  It is tempting to explain the news by declaring Local Officials incompetent.

But, we must give credit where credit is due — PEOPLE POWER prevailed. … Continue Reading

No Prison for Globe

July 12, 2011

It’s Official.  No private prison for Globe.

AZ Department of Corrections informed Emerald Co. that their bid did not fulfill RFP requirements.

AMAZING!  How could it be that so many local leaders —- EDC President McCreary, Mayor Shipley, Vice-Mayor Wilshire, and Supervisor Dawson —- spent more than a year (and who knows how many taxpayer dollars) steering THEIR private prison project idea to a DEAD END?

Of course, they will spin this outcome so that Emerald Co. gets the blame.  They will not take responsibility for failing to secure a private prison project for our community.  And, rest assured, they will not acknowledge the plain TRUTH —- that PEOPLE POWER PREVAILED.

The first battle has been won, but there remains some unfinished business.  Next, citizens can safeguard our community from future attempts to make Globe an Arizona Prison Town, by voting for both Ballot Initiatives at Globe’s next municipal election in March.

“The truth of what you believe in is what you do about it.” P. Darrow

Jim Moss, Globe Resident & Business Owner

A dissapointment. Globe Mayor and 3 council members pass measure of support.

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.  … Continue Reading

Local EDC Board hears from Citizens Opposed

By Linda Gross

Jim Moss, who heads up Globe Citizens opposed to a private Prison, gave a ten minute presentation on Thursday to the Southern Gila County Economic Development Board who were instrumental in bringing the project to Globe. Although the State has temporarily pulled the RFP (Request for Proposal) on building more prisons by partnering with the private prison industry, the move is simply to allow them to re-write the RFP to include greater security standards. It is expected the project will be back on the table – soon.

Jim Moss, with Citizens Opposed to a Private Prison, addressed the EDC at this months Board meeting.

The talk was meant to be informational and provide the EDC Board with a greater understanding of the the groups efforts which have included a 3 month petition drive which has gathered over 2000 signatures and a more targeted post card mailing which reaches registered voters and allows them to write a brief comment on why they oppose this issue.

” Today our main purpose is to share with you what our group- Citizens Opposed to Becoming a Prison Town, is currently up to, and to convince you that the majority of folks in this town and the wide community do NOT want another prison. … 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

Pet Project OR Progressive Leadership?

By: Jim Moss

Can you think of one significant community project resulting in improved quality of life — that did not require foresight and strategic planning?  Do you recall any major municipal improvement that came without a price tag, or without controversy?
So it shall be with a recent Globe City Council decision to move toward a revitalization of our Public Library.
Is the Council’s majority decision to purchase the real estate on both sides of the existing Library (as a first step toward revitalization) — an example of visionary leadership OR irresponsible city governance? … Continue Reading

New Senior Housing Development breaks ground

Floyd Crank, Mayor Fernando Shipley, Clay McReynolds of Pacific Companies, Supervisor Mike Pastor, Mark Shellenberger, Ed Dawson

It was a tough slog to get to this point according to the developer and political leaders who attended Friday’s ground breaking ceremony for a new 48-unit senior housing development. Despite being billed as a senior housing development with the express intent of serving an older population who face special needs and fixed incomes, there was local opposition to the project from those who felt the development might turn into a low-income, drug-infested housing development – or those who simply didn’t want a building development of this size “in their back yard.” It took over three years and multiple city hall meetings, planning and zoning debates, meetings at local and state levels and closed door meetings to arrive at a point where bulldozers could go in and break ground on the project.

The final approvals coincided with the economic upheaval in September of ’08 and while the events of ’08 caused a delay in the project, according to Clay McReynolds,  the investors and banks held firm in their support of this project. A final vote on the project was put before the Globe City Council. The vote was 3-For and 3-Against.  The tie vote generated a discussion to table the vote for more discussion, or vote again. It was decided to vote again and with it still tied it was Mayor Fernando Shipley who stepped in to break the tie and cast the deciding yes vote to insure the project moved forward. … Continue Reading

Photo Radar comes to Globe

By: Linda Gross

The Globe City Council  voted last month, 3-2 to install photo radar in the city of Globe. The vote came after hearing public comment which ranged from concerns about Big Brother , and a perception that the cameras represent a violation of rights… to destroying the quality of small town life. Despite the emotions which ran high at the meeting, the effort of the Mayor and Council to stay the course and move forward with the contract to Redflex is grounded in a belief that a limited number of photo radar units will actually serve to protect small town life by making streets and roads safer for all who live and work in the area, as well as visitors who come here. They point to such dangerous stretches of road as the curve on Hwy 60 near DeMarcos where people pulling out into traffic have to compete with poor visibility and drivers going – on average- 20 miles over the 45mph posted limit. … Continue Reading