From: "Alan L. Ellefson"
To: "no_cf_prison list"
Subject: Reply to Leader-Telegram editorial
This was sent to the Leader-Telegram this morning via both email and snail mail. It is also posted on the Chippewa County forum. Al
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-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Reply to LT editorial Date: Tue, 25 May 1999 06:37:36 -0500 From: "Al Ellefson" In Doug Mell's editorial titled "Northern Center prison plan OK" dated May 24th several statements are made that I will not let go unchallenged. Doug calls the opposition "misguided", since July of 1998 residents of Lafayette have been asking Senator Zien and Representative Sykora for more information on the proposal. As late as Jan. 1999 we were told at a town board meeting there wasn't any information, but now we received a budget document from the Department of Corrections dated Sept. 1998 that contains all the details of the proposal. So for seven months people were misguided, because the information was being held back by state officials. Why? Because this document proves the proposed prison is not what the people and media were first told it would be. First of all people were told bed ridden prisoners over the age of 70. Now even the Governor admits that isn't true. We were told this was being done to save jobs at the Northern Center, now Rep. Sykora admits that a prison may save only one fifth of the jobs. We were told this was a "geriatric prison", now they say "special needs prison", the fact is neither exists in state law, this will be a medium security prison. State law does not allow counties or cities to control prison building or expansion by zoning laws. Looking at any data at all would lead one to believe this area will in very few years have a full-scale medium security state prison, unless we stop it now. In Mr. Mell's opinion he makes statements that imply prisons are good neighbors and "Prisons also are economic engines". Really? Prisons cost money, my money; businesses bring in money to the area and pay real taxes on their property. If you think this is such a great deal, let's make a trade. The state office building on Clairemont is located right next to all the medical attention these prisoners will ever need. So why don't you send the state offices up to the Northern Center site and establish the prison on state land on Clairemont Ave. I am sure some of your biggest advertisers would like a prison as a neighbor. Now if you people and our elected officials really want to help save jobs and create more in this area, and utilize unused state facilities, let's get to work on ideas that benefit everyone in the community. Ideas like a federal VA hospital were not fully explored; UWEC students have been living in area hotels for years now due to lack of dormitory space, why not fix up space at the Northern Center and use a shuttle bus. Why not use part of the Northern Center, which already has classrooms to expand UWEC by adding an engineering department or medical training. Why not locate other state offices in the area that are currently on high demand, expensive land at the Northern Center and sell off the current locations to business which will create jobs and pay real tax dollars to the city, county, and school district. Why Not? The answer is simple, with almost NO work a medium security prison can be slid in while the people aren't paying attention. Developing a real solution that would save Northern Center jobs, create new jobs, increase the area pay scale, and be a real "economic engine" requires some real work. And after all isn't this supposed to be about jobs and patients at the Northern Center? Senator Zien, Rep. Sykora, and all the other elected officials in this area, it's time for you to get to work for this area, not for the needs and wants of Madison. Mr. Mell, please go dig up some facts and report and educate the public in your paper, your editorial did nothing to make us any less "misguided". Sincerely, Alan L. Ellefson Sr. |
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