130 Crowd Tucson Public Hearing on Prison Privatization in Arizona!

Source: Tucson Citizen
Also in: Censored News

More than 130 people packed the Public Hearing at Pima Community College’s Downtown Campus last night for the first ever hearings on prison privatization in Arizona. Exceeding all expectations for this event, the crowd listened intently throughout the two hour hearing to both presenters and the public comment. Sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and Private Corrections Working Group, this public hearing was the first of a series of three planned throughout the state. Not surprisingly, Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), Management and Training Corporation (MTC), and the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) sent no official representatives to the hearing though they were repeatedly invited.

Stephen Nathan, the Editor of Prison Privatisation Report International and all the way from London, England for this public hearing, started the evening off with his expert testimony on the failure of private prisons throughout the world. Representative Nancy Young-Wright reminded the standing room only crowd that Arizona had recently accomplished some very dubious distinctions – specifically that “Arizona is now second in the US for poverty, 50th in spending on education for public school students, and fourth in the nation on our prison costs,” and thus placed the focus on the (in)ability of private prisons to educate and rehabilitate prisoners while incarcerated. Later, Tucson City Councilman Steve Kovachik raised the question as to whether incarceration – public or private – is the best way to respond to crime in the first place, citing alternatives to prison that have been used in other states.

The conveners of the hearing were Representative Phil Lopes, Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias, Assistant Tucson City Manager Richard Miranda, Tucson City Councilman Steve Kovachik, Representative Nancy Young-Wright, and former Tucson Citizen Editor Mark Kimble. Other speakers of note were Victoria Lopez from the ACLU of Arizona, Susan Maurer formerly of the New Jersey Corrections Department, and Jim Sanders. Soon we will have video of the highlights from the hearing, but for now we have an assortment of photos from last night. Thanks to all who showed up and participated last night! It was a tremendous success. Press release here.

Tucson Public Hearing - CCA and (above) ADC empty chair
Source: Matthew Lowen/AFSC

CCA were also not there...

Look who stands to profit from our taxes...

Campaign spending lopsided on Ariz. sales tax hike

The Associated Press May 7, 2010, 5:23PM

By PAUL DAVENPORT

PHOENIX

One side has big donations paying for television commercials and glossy mailers sent to voters' homes. The other is a shoestring effort based on e-mail chains and homemade signs.

It's a picture of stark contrasts when it comes to campaigning for or against Proposition 100, the temporary sales tax increase on Arizona's May 18 special election ballot.

If voters approve the measure, the state sales tax would rise to 6.6 cents on the dollar from the current 5.6 cents to raise a projected $1 billion annually. The increase would begin June 1 and would last three years.

The Legislature narrowly sent the issue to the ballot in February. That was 11 months after Republican Gov. Jan Brewer first proposed a sales take hike to help close the state's big budget deficits, along with spending cuts, federal stimulus dollars and borrowing.

But it didn't take long for Proposition 100 supporters to begin writing checks in the tens of thousands of dollars -- or amounts even larger -- to committees backing the measure.

Those included over $81,000 from the Arizona and Phoenix chambers of commerce, $250,000 from the University of Arizona Foundation and $80,000 from the Arizona Education Association and its parent union. Other major contributors include hospital companies, a firefighters' union, manufacturers, arts backers, a private prison company, economic development groups and the Arizona School Boards Association.

Their backing has paid for television ads endorsing the ballot measure, and full-mailers plastered with testimonials from teachers, public safety officials and Brewer.

"Our state's future is tied to the success of this measure," one mailer has Brewer saying.

Through midday Friday, a week before the committees must file their comprehensive campaign-finance reports, filings for contributions of $10,000 or more in support of Proposition 100 added up to $1.5 million.

No corresponding contributions were reported for the other side, and one opponent said his side's eventual spending total might not add up to $50,000.

Tom Jenney, state director for Americans for Prosperity, which opposes the measure, said he hasn't been able to oblige radio stations' advertising reps who have said he ought to counter spending by Proposition 100 supporters.

"I have to send back a note saying, nope, I don't have any cash," Jenney said.

That leaves opponents relying mostly on speeches to groups, political networking and conveying their vote-no message through social media and homemade "No on 100" and "Stop the Spending" signs.

"It really is a grassroots campaign with no money," state Sen. Thayer Verschoor, a Gilbert Republican who is chairman of the Ax the Tax Committee. "But there's plenty of people out there that understand the pain that a sales tax increase" would inflict.

However, he admits getting a "little nervous when someone's spending a million-plus dollars to put their side out there."

On the other side, some of the donors have direct stakes in the outcome of Proposition 100 because its defeat would trigger spending cuts that would affect programs such as education, health care and public safety.

That's certainly what the University of Arizona Foundation's leadership believed when it approved the $250,000 contribution, foundation spokesman John C. Brown said.

"This was an appropriate way to support the long-term vitality of the institution," Brown said from Tucson. Otherwise, the institution "could literally be dismantled in three or four years."

And there's a lot at stake for Tucson, Brown added, "We really are a college town still. We don't have a lot of diversity in industry."

The foundation is a nonprofit corporation that acts as the university's fundraising arm, and the contribution wasn't from public money, Brown said.

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry decided to support Proposition 100 as part of a plan that also included lobbying Brewer and lawmakers during the recently ended legislative session for long-term business tax cuts to grow the state's economy and create jobs, Hamer said.

"We had felt that the sales tax could stand as a bridge to a time when there's a more robust economic activity," said Hamer. "I personally felt confident that a jobs bill would pass and be signed by the governor before the end of session. Unfortunately that didn't occur."

Campaign-finance filings listed a $50,000 contribution from the state chamber but Hamer said its donations would top $100,000.

Prison: Globe's bright hope for their children's future.

I just feel profoundly sad now every time I read an article like this...what about the imprint that economic dependence on crime and punishment leaves on the soul of a community? How is that a blessing for future generations? 

If you build it, they will come...

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Globe council supports prison

Posted: Wednesday, Apr 21st, 2010

www.silverbelt.com

BY: Andrea Marcanti/Staff Writer

GLOBE — After two hours of debate and discussion, Globe City Council voted in support of the private prison proposal introduced by the Southern Gila County Economic Development Corporation at the April 12 meeting.

What was initially presented to the council as an “out of city limits” correctional facility was later discovered to be inside the city’s annexed land on Globe’s northeast corridor. “We thought that the entire track was outside of city limits,” said James Parkey of Corpplan Corrections. “But after looking at it further we found it was in the limits, which puts the City of Globe in control of this proposal.”

Parkey along with Mike Moore from Emerald Correctional Management were on hand to answer questions about the project. Together with EDC Director Melissa Woodall, the group stressed the possible 40 to 60 million dollar economic footprint the prison could have on the area, the 300 plus jobs it could create, and of course their May 9 deadline to get proposals into the Arizona Department of Corrections.

Woodall explained at last week’s meeting that the state of Arizona offered a proposal to construct private correction facilities to house 5,000 beds.

The construction of these prisons would allow the state to transport inmates back to Arizona that are currently doing time out of state. “The state is looking to move the dollar back to Arizona where the citizens can benefit,” said Moore.

And with time passing and only a few weeks to submit their proposal, Emerald Corrections are looking to get the cities support in order to be placed on the “short list” with the state. “There are several other cities and towns looking to be awarded these beds,” said Moore.

The economic impact a facility of this size will have on the city is massive. “The city would get a monthly revenue check per inmate per month but it would depend on the monthly per diem that the state pays,” said Moore. “It does pay and it’s a sizable number.”

Another possible money making impact discussed lies in the Census money that could be received. “I know the Census money could be up to $1,500 per year per inmate,” said Councilwoman Thea Wilshire. “The fact that the site is already in the city is a pro to me.”

The city also looked at the possible $350 per person per year in state shared revenue, and the possible help with sewer infrastructure to help with the northeast area plan to expand Globe.

Both positive and negatives were discussed by the council and public in attendance. A big question regarding the cities lack of water was asked by Councilman Terence Wheeler. “We have a weak link in this city and that’s water,” said Wheeler. “Water is the most important commodity we have.” At the time of the discussion the EDC could not produce the numbers regarding the water usage and how that would affect the city. However, in an email received Tuesday morning, EDC member Mickie Nye felt it was important to produce these water numbers in relation to both the prison and Job Corps projects. “The northeast area plan is not homes but people, and I think the number is more like 4 thousand people if maximum build out were to occur. That is based on zoning densities. Assuming 150 gallons per day per person for 4000 people consumption would be about 674 acre feet. So taken together and assuming max capacity for both, the two projects would not exhaust the current excess capacity and would leave about 214 acre feet to support future development east of the groundwater divide, including the Job Corps (maybe 50-acre feet) and the large block of Freeport property (which also will need water). For now, there is enough water to go around.”

While other concerns expressed by the public were in regards to the possible psychological and cultural impact of having this type of facility in our city, and will Globe become a “prison town” like Florence.

The city moved forward to vote four to two in favor of supporting the prison proposal.

CCA antes up $10K for AZ tax increase (i.e. lets fill prisons)

This comes via the guys at Private Corrections Working Group. Sign up at their site for their list-serve or you'll miss everything I don't get around to posting here.

The problem with the sales tax is that it shifts the burden of public sector services further onto the backs of the working poor and deeply impoverished - while the rich are simultaneously getting all sorts of new breaks. Sales tax hurts lower income families the most...

Why fix the budget on the backs of those who have already been most brutalized in this recession, who aren't even to blame in the first place for this crime?

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Businesses are divided over tax-hike proposal

by Betty Beard - Apr. 11, 2010 12:00 AM

The Arizona Republic .

Would a higher sales tax help or hurt Arizona businesses?

Businesses and business groups are lining up on both sides of the proposed statewide 1-cent-per-dollar sales-tax increase. Some say it will hurt them by reducing consumer spending and hiking costs. Others say the tax is needed to support the overall state economy.

Businesses generally oppose tax increases on themselves or their customers, but a number of high-profile groups are supporting Proposition 100 in the May 18 election because they consider it necessary to improve the state's fiscal picture and prospects for economic development.

"You generally don't see business organizations supporting tax increases," said Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "But I think in this case, the near-term budget situation is deemed serious enough that some sort of temporary revenue enhancement was needed to prevent further (budget) cuts."

As the election approaches, both factions can point to reports that support their points of view on the proposed tax increase.

A study commissioned by the Goldwater Institute and conducted by the Beacon Hill Institute in Boston says passage of Proposition 100 would cost the state about 14,400 private-sector jobs because it would reduce the consumer spending that supports retail jobs.

A conflicting study by the Economic and Business Research Center at the University of Arizona says passage would save more than 13,000 jobs and preserve more than $442 million in federal matching funds because much of the estimated $918 million in increased revenues the state would receive would be spent on products and services provided by private companies.

Hamer said the Arizona chamber supports the tax as part of a comprehensive package that includes the state Jobs Recovery Act, which would give tax breaks to businesses in hopes of encouraging them to increase hiring.

The chamber and Greater Phoenix Leadership, a business coalition, have each contributed $50,000 to the Yes on 100 Committee, according to the Secretary of State's Office.

Arizona Public Service Co., Magellan Health Services, Scottsdale Healthcare and Tucson Medical Center have each given $25,000. Other companies making large contributions include Honeywell International PAC, which gave $15,000, and Sundt Companies Inc., Resolution Copper Mining and Corrections Corp. of America, each $10,000.

Also at least eight chambers of commerce have thrown in their support for the tax increase, including those representing Phoenix, Mesa and Tucson.

The Arizona Retailers Association, representing about 1,700 businesses, is remaining neutral.

Michelle Allen Ahlmer, executive director, said that while businesses are concerned a sales-tax increase of even a penny on the dollar would cause sales to dip, they are willing to let voters decide.

"There's no question that is a concern," she said. "But it looks a little self-serving for us to tell the public they can't make that decision."

Board member Jim Willinger, owner of Wide World of Maps Inc., strongly opposes the sales tax. He fears it will hurt businesses by reducing sales and driving up costs for things such as office supplies.

"I buy all the things that have sales taxes, too," he said.

The National Federation of Independent Business strongly opposes the tax hike. The group has about 7,500 members in Arizona.

Farrell Quinlan, Arizona state director, contends that when times are tough, governments have to economize like everyone else.

"A lot of businesses have had to lay off workers, cut back hours and change their benefit plans, not in some greedy attempt to wring out more profits but just to survive," he said.

The tax increase would have a large effect on vehicle purchases. It would add $260 to the average price of a new vehicle, $26,000.

Don Luke, owner of Bill Luke's Chrysler Jeep and Dodge in Phoenix, said most car and truck buyers, though, don't pay much attention to taxes, licenses and other fees. They tend to focus on the base price of the vehicle.

"I don't think the sales-tax increase would discourage car buying," Luke said. "We are such a large-ticket item that 1 percent is not going to affect it that way."

Nevertheless, he said of the proposed tax hike, "I am really not horribly in love with it. I simply have never seen a temporary tax that did not become permanent, and this state and this city has always been capable of spending everything they collect."

Florence's Fields of DREAMS: a Prison for their kids.

Arizona: CCA moves for zoning change

http://www.trivalleycentral.com/articles/2010/04/08/florence_reminder_blade_tribune/top_stories/doc4bbce6d8dbd9f774173336.txt

Rezoning could help CCA land big prison contract

By MARK COWLING, Editor

Thursday, April 8, 2010 8:13 AM 

"Rezoning measures that could eventually bring as many as 5,000 more state inmates and up to 875 full-time jobs to Florence are now pending before the Town Council.

At Monday’s regular meeting, the council held a public hearing on Corrections Corporation of America’s (CCA) application to rezone 183 acres behind its current facilities from “AG” Agriculture to “LI” Light Industrial. The council also heard the first reading of an ordinance to approve the zone change.

The council could vote to approve the ordinance, along with a Conditional Use Permit that would allow prisons on the land, at its April 19 meeting. CCA is buying the acreage from Delbert and Sharon Lewis..." (finish article)

-----------------------------to the Youth of Florence, AZ-------------

Maybe most of you are into all this, but I'm sorry this is the big promise your elders and leaders have for your future in terms of jobs and guaranteed "housing". More and more prisons. They just don't know what else to do there now. Maybe you can give them some better ideas for how to use that land, so it's not used to profit off the misery of so many more who will be brought to your town to suffer their punishment, just or not, and perhaps die in a cell from a treatable illness, a murderous thug, or their own despair.

Good luck to the Resistance that I know must still be there. This isn't over yet. Let me know if I can help.

- Peggy Plews

AZ Prison Watch

Private Prison Industry Razing Arizona

No source of employment in America that depends on an industry which processes, prices, and profits from people like cattle one which still only sees a poor or black man as being of any value if he's enslaved or imprisoned - is a blessing to cultivate for our children and grandchildren to grow into. Every job and “positive” byproduct of courting their business depends on them successfully marketing to the communities which host them their two biggest sellers: racism and fear.

Private prison corporations will exploit all the resources they have to assure that Arizona continues to criminalize and incarcerate people at a higher rate than most of the nation – otherwise they don’t stay in business. That means they'll be funding campaigns and pet projects of legislators who promote their interests over the public’s. With a new contract and infusion of cash, CCA/GEO etc. lobbyists will take up even more space at the Capitol, where they will have better access to influence and power than our teachers, firefighters, and other ordinary citizens will have. They will be a part of Pearce's inner circle creating an increasingly fascist state. School children, nurses, and families of the wrongfully convicted will still be told we need a permit to gather on a corner of their lawn to try to get our voices heard.

Please don’t be deceived by the promises of riches these mend bring. I have no doubt they’ll make it worth your while to get hooked on what they feed you, but it’s just seduction. While middle class Arizonans slip deeper into debt, lose their livelihoods, homes, and even families, the private prison industry will be working closely with those in our criminal justice system who are most invested in the status quo, drafting legislation that erodes civil liberties, reinforces the power of the corporate state to use violence against the people, and perpetuates, not reduces, victimization. They should have the next new batch of prisons ready for the growing “criminal” class - which many of us may join by default because we are ignorant of the driving forces behind Russ Pearce’s Law.

Ultimately, each community needs to decide if they want to leave something for future generations that corrupts the very essence of what's American - this faith in justice and equality, and the exceptionally high value we place on freedom. To us, the private prison industry should be an utter abhorrence. We should be investing our resources in reducing crime AND incarceration rates - since prisons are still chambers of torture, and incubators of rage and violence.

We are not as brutal or greedy a people as our political and economic leaders represent us to be - they speak only for their own interests. I urge Arizona citizens to pay close attention to this political campaign season, and get rid of as many private prison patrons in the legislature as possible. They will sell us out in a second if it profits them, and we must not surrender our power as a people to define our collective character based on our faith and moral values, not our fear and capacity for vindictiveness.

- Peg