Before the people of Princess Anne and Somerset County gratefully accept the arrival of a new prison, even a minimum security prison, everyone should be aware of a few important things:
-Virtually all of the construction jobs will be bid out to out-of-state workers, not locals. They will pay their income taxes elsewhere and contribute almost nothing to the local economy except for the short time they're there, and that only to motels, fast-food outlets, gas stations/convenience stores, restaurants and grocery stores.
-All of the construction materials will come from out-of-state. Not a nail, concrete block or lightbulb will be sold by local or even regional vendors for this project.
-Much of the professional and other staff of the facility will live outside Somerset County, just as much of the ECI staff does. Very little tax base increase will be seen for the county and the town. Higher taxes will rapidly come to make up for the ever-increasing drain on local resources.
-The property on which the prison will be built will be taken off the property tax rolls. It will be a private concern, but federally sponsored. It will never re-enter the tax rolls.
-Prisoners' families and “others” will move to Somerset County and nearby to be closer to their men. A great many of them will be recipients of welfare dollars, and will be using other local social welfare programs, like health care, which will put a strain on Somerset's already overburdened system. Every single one of those people will live in rental housing, and much of that rental housing will be paid for by your ever-increasing tax dollars. More cheap, dense rental housing will be built. More people will sell ther houses to landlords, who will offer premium prices to have more rental units. More illegal conversions will take place. More communities will suffer. More public services will be necessary (fire, police, ambulance) to deal with the increase in what are consistently the highest users of those services. More taxes will be necessary to pay for them.
-Many of those who move to the area will be criminals in their own right, including having gang ties or outright membership and active gang recruiting skills. The crime rate will increase, more law enforcement will be necessary at town and county levels, more locals will become criminals themselves, and more local people of all ages and walks of life will be victims, exposed and put at risk. And, of course, taxes will go up to deal with it all.
-Released prisoners may be taken to "other places" for release, but what's cheaper, a bus ticket or a ride with family back to the Eastern Shore or a move of an entire family to the “other places”? Look forward to the addition of even more recipients on social services rolls as prisoners are released, more crime and higher taxes to account for it all. Look forward to more organized crime as more releasees join the area's huge numbers of permanently unemployed or underemployed. More crime means more law enforcement, more court time, more parole and probation staff, more equipment, more fuel, more taxes.
-Karen-Lee Brofee, Somerset's Superintendent of Schools “sees no harm” in another prison coming to Somerset. Ask her to examine the period since ECI arrived and to compare it with graduation rates and disciplinary records of the years before. What she'll find is that within a few years of ECI's arrival, the quality of education in Somerset County dropped, while disciplinary incidents steadily rose and are the worst they've ever been in Somerset history. What she may tell you, though, is something else entirely. She's a politician. Instead, privately ask a teacher you might know about what he or she thinks of another prison coming to town and you may get a straighter answer. Ask a social worker how many of the kids that come from prisoner families are so screwed up that they'll never be productive members of society. Ask yourself how many more of those kids you want to be living in your town and going to school with your kids.
Somerset, you're digging yourself another hole and pulling a lot of others in with you.
Your quality of life didn't noticeably rise when ECI came to your county, and to expect that it will when another prison is built is sheer folly.
What did rise are crime, taxes, welfare numbers and strain on your and neighboring counties' infrastructures. Expect more of the same this time.
Editors Note: This wss a Letter to the Editor.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
27 comments:
I should add, one statement in thie Post talks about this project falling off the tax role is incorrect.
My research proves that "Private Concerns" means just that, it will be privately owned and operated. That means they will be taxed on property taxes as well as all of the improvements.
Far too often people think that just because the Feds or Colleges and the likes own something that they are taken off the tax role. This just isn't true in many cases.
I happen to encourage our governemtn to allow private investors to own the property and let the government lease it from us. This is what builds good and solid economic and development in our Country.
Also, this is a "low security Federal Prison." Anything with a higher risk prisoner in it would require the Feds to own and operate it.
It, (to me) is a win/win for the County and will create some 350+ jobs. If it was a higher risk prison I'd be barking up a different tree and that's just my opinion.
Be kinda funny if the gaurds were illegals and the prisoners were legals.
"Perhaps the greatest single concern with prison privatization is that private prison companies save money by hiring non-union employees, who are willing to work for less pay. These are significant savings since labor accounts for about two thirds of the cost of operating an average prison (Clement, 2002). However, the result is that security staffs at private prisons have less experience and higher turnover rates than those at public prisons. For example, at TGG operated TAFT Federal Prison in California over 50% of all guards have less than four years on the job and only 10% had any prior corrections experience (Federal Prison Privatization, 2002). "By comparison, when a new federally run prison opens over 50% of the security staff are experienced seasoned Officers transferred in from various institutions (Federal Prison Privatization, 2002).""
http://www.ifpo.org/articlebank/prison_privatization.html
I hope Jim's all over this because all those criminals and their families are going to end up right here in Salisbury, just like the ECI rejects.
Do you have proof of all the negatives in your article? I was not against the first prison, and live in the neighborhood, and I am not against this one. I see it as a help to the county. Of course the contract to put it in Somerset has not been awarded yet, so it might not matter.
Will the money from property and sales tax that the prison pays be enough to offset all the costs that it will generate? A lot of those costs look like they won't be borne just by Somerset, where the money will be collected.
I guess it's a trade-off. Whether it's a good one or not is a matter of opinion. Too bad we can't see ALL the numbers to form that opinion - we just get to see the good ones from the people who want it to happen.
What constitutes (medium & maximum) these days. Degree of violence in the commission of the crime they are incarcerated for?
11:02, I quess with gaurds so inexperienced getting anything inside will be a piece of cake.
Are child molesters medium/seg inmates?
Sir:
I went to some of the hearings and have seen the plans for the facility, It will have amenities such that people may want to break in rather than to escape.
I do agree with some of this statement.In the years since ECI was built the population of Princess Anne and the surrounding areas has grown and not for the better.The little town I grew up in has become crime infested and congested with hastily built apartment complexes and once beautiful older homes altered to house as many people as possible.You can walk into TLC or the grocery store and not see one person you know anymore.Guess who supports all those fatherless families who move here from Baltimore and other areas to be close to incarcerated family members?US!The kids are going to have problems coming from dysfunctional families and guess who has to pay for their "therapy" and special education needs?I am all for more jobs but no more jail families please!
Except for the property tax statement, I think this writer is right on the money. Most of what he or she says will happen has already happened with the opening of ECI. This is the kind of stuff that's turning us, especially Salisbury, into a regional collection area for the poor and disenfranchised, with the shrinking middle class paying for it all.
Many people will see 350 jobs as a boon, and that's all they'll see. If it didn't have so many negative implications, it would be. Others will see a big drain on the taxpayers and a sure thing for tax increases, crime and lowering our already lowered quality of life a few more notches.
mommaneedswine said...
I hope Jim's all over this because all those criminals and their families are going to end up right here in Salisbury, just like the ECI rejects.
11:03 AM
Exactly momma, does the name John Thanos ring a bell?
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/keyword/thanos
Not true almost 70% of the staff working at ECI are Somerset County residents.
This post is BS. I work for a Salisbury commercial builder, and we anticipate bidding this project. We use local (Delmarva) sub-contractors and suppliers. If you don't want a prison, fine. But don't claim that it won't help local people and companies, we need the work!
The guards will not come from this area because there are no qualified people to hire. Anyone that wants a guard job can get one at ECI. All this will do is bring in another bunch of outsiders. Keep the prison out of here and everybody will be much better off. Somerset will always have high unemployment because they have a lot of uneducated people that are not qualified to work anywhere.
Will the person with the paperbag over his head show up on thirteen like he did against ECI???
12:47
Your company can bid on it, but I'll bet you that it'll be more likely to be an outfit with huge resources that gets the major bid. They'll be from NJ or PA or maybe from outside the beltway.
They'll use their own people, because they can get them cheaper, even paying room and board near the site.
Good luck, though. We'll all be watching.
The only way to keep prison families out is to keep prisons out. What you've got you have to live with, and so does everybody else affected by your decision.
I read this article and pick up on more positive things then negative. The way the article reads to me is JOBS JOBS JOBS, our economy has changed and our communities have to change with that, your not going to find the town of MAYBERRY anymore, the article reads we will need more (fire,police,ambulances) since when is training local people in these fields a negative thing. It also reads more court time, more parole and probation officers again JOBS JOBS JOBS, maybe if the state made it a little easier to be released from prison and not have to go back to a life of crime for no other reason then to simply survive then the communities wouldn't have to suffer, the writers argument is aimed at the wrong people. Also, lets be realistic I think that Somersets Superintendent of Schools knows more about her schools then whatever idiot wrote this letter to the editor, and ask yourself another question, how does the writer know and how dare the writer say any child will never be a productive member of society, what a terrible thing to say about todays youth, the writer should be ashamed of him/her self. I would like to see the writer of this article spend a day in ECI with the guards and tell them their not qualified, you would need a change of undershorts before the day was over, so stop ur bitching and adapt to change.
I see 2:35's point.
More criminals, more JOBS. More damaged kids, more JOBS. More fire calls to slums, more JOBS. Bigger courthouse, more JOBS. More Social Services, more JOBS.
More government, more JOBS.
If a prison in your back yard was a good thing Somerset county would not even be considered for it. Some prominent county would be asking for and getting it. Somerset only gets what others do not want. Than the commissioners brag how successful they were in attracting new business and creating jobs. The economic development folks should be eliminated, thats saving money.
LOL 3:27 if it wasnt so sad it would be funny but it IS true.Why do people think women marry inmates? Not for love but because its easier to get " on the dole" with an incarcerated head of household.
It seems to me like people that were better off might spend some of their personal time doing community involvement work so you can help the people in your community better yourself. It looks to me like you want to sit up and complain, instead of standing up and doing something to make your life better and other lives better. I am a member of a "prison family" and I accept no welfare or benefits from anyone anywhere. I am an upstanding citizen in my community, I volunteer my time weekly to Habitat for Humanity, and really help people get into homes of their own so they can build some self esteem and break the cycle of their life. I also work my butt off and make good money, own my own business, and pay for my own health insurance and my family's. Walk a day in my shoes, then associate me as you see fit. Judge not less you be judged, and alot of these simple minded comments are rude, generic, and some of you might ought to be ashamed.
Not all prisoners families are criminals/welfare people. I know
Im not! I work, pay my taxes and take care of my kids. What you all need to be complaining about is tax dollars paying for illegals healthcare!!!
The comments about inmate's families are overbroad and completely stereotypical. I married a prisoner and we've been married for 27 years. I have worked full-time the entire time, own my home and pay taxes. I do charitable work in my community. Our son played on sports teams, did well in school, went to college and is a respectful, wonderful young man. The primary problem children of prisoners have to cope with is the ignorance of those who label them and expect the worst of them.
As for a private prison in the community - I am opposed to privatization of prisons for profit. And a prison in your midst is not a good thing but not for many of the reasons listed. It will drive out local business and bring in the Walmarts. Child abuse rates and domestic violence rates will increase - not from inmate families but the guard's families.
Really, people should educate themselves before throwing around self-righteous judgmental statements. Z.
I agree that people should educate themselves before they post statements of opinion. Opinions should be based on facts. There is nothing criminal about me. My husband has spent the last 22 years of his life incarcerated. I am master's level educated, own my home, have a great job, and do extensive work within my community so that young people don't make the mistakes my husband did. If I was interested in relocating to your community, I would be an asset. I have never relocated as I am able to travel. I have not done any research on the rest of your article so I will not give an opinion. There are more people like me than what you have referred to in your statement. You might want to look into that a little bit more.
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