|
|
| Jail money fight not over |
| By smdailyjournal.com - Michelle Durand |
| Published: 03/12/2012 |
|
CA -- The county’s absence from the list of those receiving state money for new jails wasn’t surprising — San Mateo County hadn’t even been invited to apply. But county officials remain undaunted, believing a combination of legislation by Assemblyman Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, and supporting advocacy by the construction trades can help them nab at least some money toward constructing a new 576-bed jail in Redwood City beginning by the end of the year. “We’re not trying to take money from other counties. We’re trying to get the state to use the money they have in a responsible and wise way,” said Deputy County Manager Mary McMillan. McMillan and Assistant Sheriff Trish Sanchez made a last-ditch appeal to the Corrections Standards Authority Thursday before it announced $602 million to 11 other counties. “We didn’t expect them to just say here’s some money but we wanted to go on record with our proposal and say that there are counties who aren’t building for at least a couple years. We’re as close to shovel ready as anything in the state,” said Sheriff Greg Munks. While McMillan also said they weren’t necessarily expecting their words to push a change of heart, she hopes their questioning of the current process and policies makes a difference down the road. For example, she said, counties can sit on the money until 2017 and many don’t yet have plans or even a site — both which San Mateo County does. “If you really want some of this money to go out and create jobs and the goal is not just to build a jail, wouldn’t you want it to be used pretty immediately?” she asked. McMillan plans to enlist the help of state building trades groups to demand that they need jobs now. She is also hopeful Hill can get legislation passed enabling the state to shift money allocated to build state facilities — no longer necessary with so many inmates shifted locally under realignment, she said — to the pot available for jail construction and expansion. Hill, who previously lobbied unsuccessfully to change the funding criteria from number of inmates to shovel-readiness, said another option is legislation sending back unused funds from a previous funding phase to the state for redistribution. “We can put people to work immediately when those counties may never build those jails,” Hill said. In the announcement of the funds, Matthew Cate, CSA chairman and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation called the awards “a major boost for California counties to house local inmates safely and effectively.” However, McMillan said not releasing millions of unused dollars does nothing to alleviate crowding at either the local or state levels. Another consideration is if some counties awarded money will even accept or act upon it. Los Angeles County is in the midst of heavy debate over a new jail, complete with opposition groups and protests. Orange County is being sued over its planned jail expansion by the city of Irvine which may tie it up in court, keeping its $100 million on hold. “It could be that any of those could not work out and then we’ll be back in play,” McMillan said. Meanwhile, McMillan said the county is looking at jail financing options like bonds that would be reimbursed by any funds from the state. County Manager John Maltbie is also working on financing for both the construction and operating costs as part of his five-year plan, Munks said. The jail is estimated to cost approximately $165 million. Read More. |
Comments:
Login to let us know what you think
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
The directory includes the biographies of judges presidentially appointed to serve during good behavior since 1789 on the U.S. district courts, U.S. courts of appeals, Supreme Court of the United States, and U.S. Court of International Trade, as well as the former U.S. circuit courts, Court of Claims, U.S. Customs Court, and U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals. Also included are judges who received presidential recess appointments to the above named courts but were not confirmed by the Senate to serve during good behavior. The Waco Federal Judge is experienced in patent litigation and starting to become the go-to district for intellectual property cases. The appointment of Waco’s new federal judge, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that narrows the venue for patent cases and Waco’s home in the federal Western District of Texas have combined into a perfect storm that could drastically alter Waco’s legal landscape.