Hacienda State Prison?
By Mike Rhodes

Carissa Phelps ( http://www.carissaproject.com/ ) got it right when she warned the community that if they did not act fast, a private corporation was going to develop the old Hacienda Hotel into a state prison, complete with razor wire, correctional officers, and high security. Phelps said that some city officials approved of the plan because it would provide some emergency housing for homeless women and it passed the Planning Commission on a 7-0 vote. Going into Wednesday night’s “Truth on the Table” tour, set up by Fresno mayor Alan Autry, the proposal seemed like a slam dunk.

Yolanda Salinas-Bowen was the first resident at the mayor’s meeting, held at the Golden Palace Event Center (across the street from the Hacienda), to complain about the proposal to build a privatized state prison in the neighborhood. She said “from what I heard it is going to be a half way house, a homeless space, there are going to be guards, and 24 hour a day video surveillance. How can you put kids in that facility with barbed wire around the place? Is that a good environment for them to be raised in?”

Autry responded that there was not going to be any razor wire and compared it to the Betty Ford rehabilitation center. He said that the community needed a facility that would take care of the homeless and women who had drug and alcohol problems. Autry seemed to be taking the moral high ground when he argued against NIMBY’ism (Not In My Back Yard) and argued that these people need help and that the facility has to go somewhere.

Phelps, who helped organize many of the neighbors to the meeting, reminded mayor Autry that the residents in this area had not been given proper notice that this facility was being considered. Most of the people in the audience raised their hands when asked if they had less than three days notice. Phelps said that all the community is asking for is time to be heard on this issue. She said, holding up the Planning Commission staff report, “it does say inmates in here, it does say correctional officers, it does say correctional center, and it does say razor wire fences.”

Phelps asked Autry to appeal the proposal so the community could have input into the decision making process. Autry responded that he was inclined to support the proposal for the facility, but it was clear he was being moved by some of the testimony. Phelps asked Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer why his department had not commented on the facility. Dyer said he had not seen the proposal and would like some time to look at it. With that, Autry agreed to appeal the proposal and the audience cheered. You can view a 16 minute video of the discussion (see below).

There are still three more opportunities to speak directly to Autry about issues of concern in your neighborhood. These events will take place at:

Tuesday, February 5 at Saroyan Elementary School (District 2)
Wednesday, February 6 at the Woodward Park Library (District 6)
Tuesday, February 12 at the Hinton Center (District 3)

Wednesday’s event was a good example of grassroots democracy at its best. You had neighbors concerned about an issue in their community, they were able to talk directly to the mayor and other decision makers, the elected officials listened, and community members will be given more opportunity to discuss this issue before a final decision is made.

It was essential to have members of the community speak up at this event, but it was equally important to have an organizer who came prepared with the facts, make a simple and clear demand, and move policy makers in the right direction. Whether or not this facility will be built is unknown at this time. What we do know is that at least there will be a discussion about it in the community.

For more information about Carissa Phelps and this organizing project, see: http://www.carissaproject.com/blog/

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