Here in South Dakota, our former governor Kristi Noem tried to pull the same thing! Fortunately after she left the state to become the Director of Homeland Security, our legislators and new governor are doing a “reset” after not approving the follow up funding. But the recipe of covert land acquisition and lack of transparency is the same as yours! It’s ironic that our governor left the state after engaging in stealthily prison building while your governor returned to the state (after serving the same MAGA leader at the Federal level) to play the same covert and corrupt game. Almost like there’s a “conspiracy”…….
When I worked in Economic Development in the Russellville Chamber, consideration of a prison brought so much anger from the community that it resulted in death threats to our office. Keep in mind, the proposition was only put on the table to officially decline. But someone on the board started spreading gossip about it and the community went wild.
This was over 25 years ago. But even today, no one wants a prison in their community. And, while we did learn that the jobs they provide pay very well, the fact remains that any tourism industry you have will decline and the community will retain the released inmates. In a college town where moms and dads send their recently adulted children, this is just a bad idea.
It would have been a boon for the local industries, however. It would have made cheap labor more accessible that required no benefits or talk about labor unions or workers rights.
Between 1979 and 1982, I worked on an archeological project to recover the buried humans which were being impacted by an interstate highway. There is a bridge crossing the Illinois River there now. We were doing it because there was a regulation that required funds for "mitigating" any impact that the federally funded highway would cause. I doubt that Arkansas has anything remotely close to that requirement.
It would be so wonderful if Arkansans could only believe in themselves! Just believe that they deserve better than the tired old images of a feed store, the sheriff and a few overall wearing, corn cob pipe smoking, tobacco chewing, snuff dipping, towns people, half employed, the other half in the county jail. One convenience store, one bar, three churches and a school...Just see a future bigger than a new shiny prison as a beacon of PROGRESS.
Growing crime-- is not the problem--growing weeds of "the fear of crime", is chocking and strangling the state, smothering the vision of the citizens, stealing the futures of everyone.
The Bible says, " The people parish for lack of vision (wisdom) (knowledge)."
Fear, is of the devil. The devil is the author of confusion! etc. etc.
Surely, with imagination and the combined will of the people, Arkansas, can design a safer, better, creative and productive state.
Here in South Dakota, our former governor Kristi Noem tried to pull the same thing! Fortunately after she left the state to become the Director of Homeland Security, our legislators and new governor are doing a “reset” after not approving the follow up funding. But the recipe of covert land acquisition and lack of transparency is the same as yours! It’s ironic that our governor left the state after engaging in stealthily prison building while your governor returned to the state (after serving the same MAGA leader at the Federal level) to play the same covert and corrupt game. Almost like there’s a “conspiracy”…….
When I worked in Economic Development in the Russellville Chamber, consideration of a prison brought so much anger from the community that it resulted in death threats to our office. Keep in mind, the proposition was only put on the table to officially decline. But someone on the board started spreading gossip about it and the community went wild.
This was over 25 years ago. But even today, no one wants a prison in their community. And, while we did learn that the jobs they provide pay very well, the fact remains that any tourism industry you have will decline and the community will retain the released inmates. In a college town where moms and dads send their recently adulted children, this is just a bad idea.
It would have been a boon for the local industries, however. It would have made cheap labor more accessible that required no benefits or talk about labor unions or workers rights.
Great seeing you last night! Wonderful lecture from Ms Jemison. Look forward to you more and more in our beautiful state!
Between 1979 and 1982, I worked on an archeological project to recover the buried humans which were being impacted by an interstate highway. There is a bridge crossing the Illinois River there now. We were doing it because there was a regulation that required funds for "mitigating" any impact that the federally funded highway would cause. I doubt that Arkansas has anything remotely close to that requirement.
It would be so wonderful if Arkansans could only believe in themselves! Just believe that they deserve better than the tired old images of a feed store, the sheriff and a few overall wearing, corn cob pipe smoking, tobacco chewing, snuff dipping, towns people, half employed, the other half in the county jail. One convenience store, one bar, three churches and a school...Just see a future bigger than a new shiny prison as a beacon of PROGRESS.
Growing crime-- is not the problem--growing weeds of "the fear of crime", is chocking and strangling the state, smothering the vision of the citizens, stealing the futures of everyone.
The Bible says, " The people parish for lack of vision (wisdom) (knowledge)."
Fear, is of the devil. The devil is the author of confusion! etc. etc.
Surely, with imagination and the combined will of the people, Arkansas, can design a safer, better, creative and productive state.
What’s the easiest way to find out who voted yes and no on the bill?