Hey jail-alternative proponents!
Here are some example letters you can send to your city council members. It is best to
edit them a little, or write something completely from scratch or by using the issue
list below, but any letter is better than no letter - The city council needs our
help to act, and that starts with the number of letters they receive. A paper copy
is much better than an email. Both 'at large' city council members, and your
ward/district representatives need to hear from you. If you can hand write a letter,
it's even better.
We are also at various events encouraging people to sign these letters. Consider
coming this Thursday at Phoenix Park 6PM for the concert series, we will have a tent
setup with info to hand out.
Here's that link for letters once again!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Easy, Important Action: Letter Writing
Friday, June 6, 2008
slow news day
Hmmm...
From WEAU.com:
New Jail Brings Jobs
From WEAU.com:
New Jail Brings Jobs
Nearly two dozen new jobs will be coming to the area once the new Eau Claire County Jail is built.
Sheriff Ron Cramer says the Law Enforcement Committee approved 19 new correctional officer positions for the jail opening in 2010.
And Cramer says it benefits more than just the jail, since promotions could be made from the jail to put more deputies on the road.
He says the approval will go to the Personnel Committee, which will start recruiting workers next year. end story
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
County Struggling to gain Momentum
This TV piece makes it clear how hard the County is struggling to maintain an image that the Jail project is moving forward. This is NOT news, this is speculation. Instead of talking to citizens in EC County or nearly half the County Board members that present very clear alternatives to the downtown jail project, or further investigate the recent announcement that it's likely to cost millions more than even a few months ago, this is what we get. When will they stop wasting our money on this failed project and take the high road?
The jail doesn't need to be downtown for the Sheriffs and Police to communicate efficiently. The jail doesn't need to be downtown for detectives to get more room. And the main word in the headline that still reveals the precarious nature of the downtown jail: could (not will!).
From WEAU.com:
Local Law Enforcement Could Soon Share a Space
The jail doesn't need to be downtown for the Sheriffs and Police to communicate efficiently. The jail doesn't need to be downtown for detectives to get more room. And the main word in the headline that still reveals the precarious nature of the downtown jail: could (not will!).
From WEAU.com:
Local Law Enforcement Could Soon Share a Space
Plans to expand and remodel the Eau Claire County jail and courthouse could have a big impact on two local law enforcement agencies. In fact, the Sheriff’s Department and the Police Department could eventually share the same space.
Sheriff Ron Cramer says the two department have been talking about sharing spaces since the county started planning big changes to the current courthouse. He says moving-in together would help make day-to-day operations more efficient.
"Communication is so much a part of what we do in our job day-to-day with the public and with other law enforcement agencies,” Sheriff Cramer said. “So, I think that communication will be enhanced."
"Anytime you're sitting side-by-side it's just going to facilitate increased communication,” added Police Chief, Jerry Matysik.
But, the collaboration could mean even more to the Police Department. That’s because Chief Matysik says his staff has been dealing with a space-crunch for quite some time.
"Our detectives are really kind of packed in like sardines back there,” Chief Matysik said. “We don't have proper facilities to do very many interviews at one time."
If this shared spaces plan doesn’t work out, he says the Police Department will have to move somewhere else.
"That would be detrimental to us here at the Sheriff's Department, because we share a lot of information back and forth,” Cramer said.
Sheriff Cramer says combining the two departments also saves the county $2 million on the courthouse project.
He says it would also make this one of the first areas in the state where the Police and Sheriff’s Departments work within the same area.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
One Root of the Problem
From TV-18:
New Study Highlights Eau Claire's Tough Justice System
Eau Claire’s chief of police reacts to a new study that shows the county has one of the toughest justice systems in the state.
The study, conducted by the National Institute of Corrections, says more people are arrested and sent through the court system in Eau Claire than in other parts of Wisconsin. Jerry Matysik, Eau Claire Chief of Police, says more crimes are reported in Eau Claire than in some of the other counties it was compared to, and so, naturally, more arrests take place.
Matysik does acknowledge, however, there are some things that can be done to ease the burden on the county’s justice system, which some experts say is operating beyond capacity.
“We can perhaps take some of the more minor offenses and instead of charging them as crimes, look at city ordinance citations, perhaps, that might reduce some of the stress on the system,” says Matysik.
Some of those minor offenses could include disorderly conduct, minor drug possession, and minor shoplifting.
Last week, Chief Matysik shared his ideas with other agencies within the county’s justice system. He says it is too early to know when any changes could take place.
New Study Highlights Eau Claire's Tough Justice System
Eau Claire’s chief of police reacts to a new study that shows the county has one of the toughest justice systems in the state.
The study, conducted by the National Institute of Corrections, says more people are arrested and sent through the court system in Eau Claire than in other parts of Wisconsin. Jerry Matysik, Eau Claire Chief of Police, says more crimes are reported in Eau Claire than in some of the other counties it was compared to, and so, naturally, more arrests take place.
Matysik does acknowledge, however, there are some things that can be done to ease the burden on the county’s justice system, which some experts say is operating beyond capacity.
“We can perhaps take some of the more minor offenses and instead of charging them as crimes, look at city ordinance citations, perhaps, that might reduce some of the stress on the system,” says Matysik.
Some of those minor offenses could include disorderly conduct, minor drug possession, and minor shoplifting.
Last week, Chief Matysik shared his ideas with other agencies within the county’s justice system. He says it is too early to know when any changes could take place.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Inflation Rates Raise Jail Cost
TV-18 Reports that every month the project is "delayed" it costs an extra 230,000 dollars. Wow. In just a few months that adds up to a MILLION DOLLARS because of poor planning.
Here's the story from their website:
Inflation Rates Could Impact Jail Project
Inflation could drive up the cost of the Eau Claire County Jail expansion project if it’s delayed.
Contractors say the rate of inflation for construction projects in this part of the country is double the national average. They say that’s due to supply and demand, in addition to increased fuel costs.
Contractors consider inflation when locking in prices for a project. However, when a project is delayed, inflation can have a major impact on additional costs.
“If you take a $10 million project, and you assume that five and a half percent is correct, it costs them about $46,000 every month that they don’t start the project,” explained Don Carlson, Vice President of Operations at Market and Johnson, the construction company that will be building the new jail.
With the current rate of inflation, Market and Johnson says the jail project could cost an extra $230,000 a month if it’s delayed. However, the company expects the rate of inflation to continue to rise, which would also increase the cost of any potential delays.
Here's the story from their website:
Inflation Rates Could Impact Jail Project
Inflation could drive up the cost of the Eau Claire County Jail expansion project if it’s delayed.
Contractors say the rate of inflation for construction projects in this part of the country is double the national average. They say that’s due to supply and demand, in addition to increased fuel costs.
Contractors consider inflation when locking in prices for a project. However, when a project is delayed, inflation can have a major impact on additional costs.
“If you take a $10 million project, and you assume that five and a half percent is correct, it costs them about $46,000 every month that they don’t start the project,” explained Don Carlson, Vice President of Operations at Market and Johnson, the construction company that will be building the new jail.
With the current rate of inflation, Market and Johnson says the jail project could cost an extra $230,000 a month if it’s delayed. However, the company expects the rate of inflation to continue to rise, which would also increase the cost of any potential delays.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
University Analysis of Jail Site
Visit this link to some great information compiled at UWEC.
"At the end of February, 2008, the Jail Division, National Institute of Corrections, U.S. Bureau of Prisons (NIC) released the Eau Claire County Local Justice System Assessment. The report was provided as technical assistance to the leadership of justice agencies and units of government operating the justice system within Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.
"Recommendations in the report include the need for improved public participation, better analysis of existing data, and use of UWEC expertise to analyze data. Our University, with its emphasis on faculty-student collaborative research, is ideally suited to make just such high value contributions to local environmental and social needs and issues, and many departments have already been involved in doing so.
"One example of the contribution UWEC can make to the jail issue is from Dr. Christina Hupy’s Advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS) class, Spring 2008. In the class, geography major Beth Ellison created a series of maps that show the location of the currently proposed new jail in relation to NIC jail siting recommendations. See the maps here.
Monday, May 5, 2008
May Meetings
CAJE meeting TONIGHT!
Monday May 5th at 7pm.
AT the NEW LOCATION for our May meetings:
The Unitarian Church at 421 S. Farwell. We will be meeting in the basement and the
assumption is that we enter on the side of the church. A sign will be placed on the
entrance door with the name of our group.
Monday, April 28, 2008
April Update
Tonight’s meeting will be at 7pm at the Congregational Church as usual. Things are
falling into place for the next phase of our work.
In the coming weeks we will be meeting at a different location and meetings in May
will be bi-weekly. We will continue to be in touch with each other by phone and
email as we work on the next phase.
So for tonight; same time and place. Next time and place will be announced soon.
And don't forget to:
*Keep your Mondays open.
*Keep circulating those petitions.
*Keep writing editorials to the Leader Telegram.
*Call and write the reps and keep up the pressure. Let your representatives know
that you are watching them and expect them to keep the best interest of their
constituents at heart.
*Talk to your friends and neighbors about the Jail project and let people know what
we are facing. Amazingly I still meet people every day who don’t know about the
impending jail and are horrified when they hear of it. Our most important moment on
this project is still to come and we’ll need lots of supporters to rally round. If
people are interested in any further rallies for our cause, or similar action, and
they are not on our list, get their email addresses and we’ll notify them when the
time comes. They don’t have to come to every meeting in order to come to a rally.
Some people are willing to show up for a rally but don’t have time to come to
meetings.
Everyone’s efforts are appreciated and every action you take, big or small, matters.
This is a grass roots effort and we are struggling for the beauty and quality of
life of our town. Remind your neighbors and your representatives that the town
belongs to all of us.
Pray for spring and keep up the good fight!
Emily Beach
Monday, April 14, 2008
meeting update
A Reminder to everyone that CAJE will be meeting Monday evening, as usual, at 7pm at the first Congregational Church.
Last week we reviewed our work so far and talked about strategies for the next couple of months.
** Our current focus should clearly be on getting our point of view across to the City Council, while our opponents are doing the same. It is important that our council members hear the voices of a large number of their constituents. I think I can even say, a large majority of their constituents, after the enthusiastic responses that all of us had from people we met while knocking on doors during the week before elections. So it is extremely important that we all send thoughtful messages to our City Council reps. now as they are considering whether or not to vote to rezone the property next to the waterfront for a jail. We, of course, are hoping that they will not rezone the property, thereby necessitating that the jail be moved elsewhere.
We decided that we would, at tomorrow's meeting, be considering the positions of each of the City Council and County Board members with the intention of making sure that each one has heard our message.
Ken indicated to us that he is going to be bringing up the suggestion of an amendment to the County Board at his first meeting as a supervisor. This will be to introduce allowing the public the opportunity to speak for at least 3 minutes each on topics of their concern to the County Board before the meetings begin. Up to now, no one other than county board members has been allowed to speak at these meetings. Those of you who attended our first rally will recall that we were warned before entering the board room that we were not allowed to speak at all. Ken would like to change that and I think we all applaud him for this bold move.
The next County Board meeting will be on this coming April 15th, for those who would like to attend. We will all be watching with interest to see if the County Board will choose to listen to its public by accepting Ken's suggestion.
I have been notified that CAJE will need to find an alternative meeting place for May 2, 5, and 19 as the church, which has been very generous to us with meeting space, does have another function for the space on those dates. If anyone has any suggestions or leads on another space, that information would be most welcome.
Kudos go to all who worked tirelessly on getting out the word during the campaigns and all those who have worked on petitions. They just keep coming in, and I plan to have the names counted by tomorrow evening.
Ned and I did a tour of the existing jail on Friday, and it was indeed an eye opener. Clearly something needs to be done, but whereas somewhat bigger and/or more organized may be in order, huge is not better, and I also still firmly believe that if we have a new building that it does not need to be on the waterfront in our historic neighborhood.
I am also more convinced than ever that jail is not the appropriate place for either a mental health facility or a rehab. center and indeed neither is likely to happen with the 20K that they have set aside for programing by the time they build a new 60 million jail. Buildings don't rehabilitate people or give them jobs when they get out of jail, nor do they prevent people from returning to jail.
It is my personal opinion that what funds we have should be spent on programs to treat those with mental illnesses and addictions outside of the jail environment, to increase the ankle bracelet program which seems to be working well according to the Lieutenant who gave us the tour, and to provide work training and jobs for inmates upon release. If we were to do this it is my belief that far fewer secure beds would be needed.
Keep up the good fight.
See you all Monday evening.
from an email by Emily Beach
Last week we reviewed our work so far and talked about strategies for the next couple of months.
** Our current focus should clearly be on getting our point of view across to the City Council, while our opponents are doing the same. It is important that our council members hear the voices of a large number of their constituents. I think I can even say, a large majority of their constituents, after the enthusiastic responses that all of us had from people we met while knocking on doors during the week before elections. So it is extremely important that we all send thoughtful messages to our City Council reps. now as they are considering whether or not to vote to rezone the property next to the waterfront for a jail. We, of course, are hoping that they will not rezone the property, thereby necessitating that the jail be moved elsewhere.
We decided that we would, at tomorrow's meeting, be considering the positions of each of the City Council and County Board members with the intention of making sure that each one has heard our message.
Ken indicated to us that he is going to be bringing up the suggestion of an amendment to the County Board at his first meeting as a supervisor. This will be to introduce allowing the public the opportunity to speak for at least 3 minutes each on topics of their concern to the County Board before the meetings begin. Up to now, no one other than county board members has been allowed to speak at these meetings. Those of you who attended our first rally will recall that we were warned before entering the board room that we were not allowed to speak at all. Ken would like to change that and I think we all applaud him for this bold move.
The next County Board meeting will be on this coming April 15th, for those who would like to attend. We will all be watching with interest to see if the County Board will choose to listen to its public by accepting Ken's suggestion.
I have been notified that CAJE will need to find an alternative meeting place for May 2, 5, and 19 as the church, which has been very generous to us with meeting space, does have another function for the space on those dates. If anyone has any suggestions or leads on another space, that information would be most welcome.
Kudos go to all who worked tirelessly on getting out the word during the campaigns and all those who have worked on petitions. They just keep coming in, and I plan to have the names counted by tomorrow evening.
Ned and I did a tour of the existing jail on Friday, and it was indeed an eye opener. Clearly something needs to be done, but whereas somewhat bigger and/or more organized may be in order, huge is not better, and I also still firmly believe that if we have a new building that it does not need to be on the waterfront in our historic neighborhood.
I am also more convinced than ever that jail is not the appropriate place for either a mental health facility or a rehab. center and indeed neither is likely to happen with the 20K that they have set aside for programing by the time they build a new 60 million jail. Buildings don't rehabilitate people or give them jobs when they get out of jail, nor do they prevent people from returning to jail.
It is my personal opinion that what funds we have should be spent on programs to treat those with mental illnesses and addictions outside of the jail environment, to increase the ankle bracelet program which seems to be working well according to the Lieutenant who gave us the tour, and to provide work training and jobs for inmates upon release. If we were to do this it is my belief that far fewer secure beds would be needed.
Keep up the good fight.
See you all Monday evening.
from an email by Emily Beach
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