Phil in Paris
10-02-2004, 09:19 AM
State moves ahead with death row plan at San Quentin despite opposition in Marin
By Richard Halstead, IJ reporter
The California Department of Corrections issued a report that moved it a step closer to building a new $220 million death row at San Quentin State Prison - perhaps as soon as September 2005.
The department this week sent copies of its draft environmental impact report to interested parties for comment. The purpose of the document is to identify the effects construction of the new death row would have on the area and whether those effects, if serious, could be mitigated.
The report envisions a death row facility with 1,024 cells that could safely house 1,408 condemned inmates. The existing death row - built in 1934 to handle 68 inmates - houses more than 600 men.
The report notes that the Legislature has authorized the issuance of $220 million in bonds to build the prison and says construction is expected to begin a year from now.
But Assemblyman Joe Nation, D-San Rafael, said he doubts the cash will be available to begin construction that soon.
"My understanding from direct conversations I've had with the state controller and others in his office, is that they don't believe there will be any sale of additional bond funds until the year 2007," Nation said.
Local housing and transportation advocates - led by Nation and Supervisor Steve Kinsey - have argued that the prison should be shut down to make room for new housing, commercial development and a ferry terminal.
Only one public hearing on the EIR is planned, said Cher Daniels, a CDC environmental planner. The hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 4 in Room 330 of the Civic Center.
"We think the report is a wake-up call to the rest of the community," said Edward Segal, executive vice president of the Marin Association of Realtors.
"Our concern is that they may be moving too fast and that the public does not have a full understanding and appreciation of what the proposed expansion will mean for the community," Segal said.
"Obviously they are moving ahead with greater speed than any of us thought," said Elissa Giambastiani, chief executive of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce. She said she would organize a community forum within the next 30 days, "to let people know what the plans are for this major expansion."
The new death row would be separated from the main prison by two patrol roads and double cyclone fences topped with barbed tape and a lethal electrified wire. Perimeter guard towers, a support services building, a visitor/staff processing center, a communications building, and a central maintenance facility would be located outside the secure perimeter.
A single-level option calls for the facility to be about 25 feet tall, and a stacked option would be 44 feet tall. The new death row would employ up to 648 people.
The report concludes that the project would significantly affect air quality, water supply, traffic and the area's appearance. It identifies traffic congestion on local roadways, and the provision of water to the site, as areas of controversy.
The report also states that closing the prison to make way for alternative development there would be more damaging to the environment than building the new death row.
At Nation's insistence, the state auditor evaluated the correction department's building plans earlier this year. The auditor reported that the CDC failed to adequately examine the long-term costs and benefits of building a replacement facility.
The auditor's report listed several higher costs associated with maintaining a prison at San Quentin. These included: 10 percent higher building costs amounting to $22 million; additional personnel costs of $7 million annually; and substantially higher overtime costs.
The auditor also reported, however, that the costs to relocate San Quentin prisoners would likely exceed the proceeds the state would receive from selling the property by as much as $337 million.
"It's always been an uphill battle to stop this thing," Kinsey said. "The critical thing is the governor hasn't weighed in on this issue yet."
Contact Richard Halstead via e-mail at rhalstead@marinij.com
http://www.marinij.com/Stories/0,1413,234~24407~2436656,00.html
By Richard Halstead, IJ reporter
The California Department of Corrections issued a report that moved it a step closer to building a new $220 million death row at San Quentin State Prison - perhaps as soon as September 2005.
The department this week sent copies of its draft environmental impact report to interested parties for comment. The purpose of the document is to identify the effects construction of the new death row would have on the area and whether those effects, if serious, could be mitigated.
The report envisions a death row facility with 1,024 cells that could safely house 1,408 condemned inmates. The existing death row - built in 1934 to handle 68 inmates - houses more than 600 men.
The report notes that the Legislature has authorized the issuance of $220 million in bonds to build the prison and says construction is expected to begin a year from now.
But Assemblyman Joe Nation, D-San Rafael, said he doubts the cash will be available to begin construction that soon.
"My understanding from direct conversations I've had with the state controller and others in his office, is that they don't believe there will be any sale of additional bond funds until the year 2007," Nation said.
Local housing and transportation advocates - led by Nation and Supervisor Steve Kinsey - have argued that the prison should be shut down to make room for new housing, commercial development and a ferry terminal.
Only one public hearing on the EIR is planned, said Cher Daniels, a CDC environmental planner. The hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 4 in Room 330 of the Civic Center.
"We think the report is a wake-up call to the rest of the community," said Edward Segal, executive vice president of the Marin Association of Realtors.
"Our concern is that they may be moving too fast and that the public does not have a full understanding and appreciation of what the proposed expansion will mean for the community," Segal said.
"Obviously they are moving ahead with greater speed than any of us thought," said Elissa Giambastiani, chief executive of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce. She said she would organize a community forum within the next 30 days, "to let people know what the plans are for this major expansion."
The new death row would be separated from the main prison by two patrol roads and double cyclone fences topped with barbed tape and a lethal electrified wire. Perimeter guard towers, a support services building, a visitor/staff processing center, a communications building, and a central maintenance facility would be located outside the secure perimeter.
A single-level option calls for the facility to be about 25 feet tall, and a stacked option would be 44 feet tall. The new death row would employ up to 648 people.
The report concludes that the project would significantly affect air quality, water supply, traffic and the area's appearance. It identifies traffic congestion on local roadways, and the provision of water to the site, as areas of controversy.
The report also states that closing the prison to make way for alternative development there would be more damaging to the environment than building the new death row.
At Nation's insistence, the state auditor evaluated the correction department's building plans earlier this year. The auditor reported that the CDC failed to adequately examine the long-term costs and benefits of building a replacement facility.
The auditor's report listed several higher costs associated with maintaining a prison at San Quentin. These included: 10 percent higher building costs amounting to $22 million; additional personnel costs of $7 million annually; and substantially higher overtime costs.
The auditor also reported, however, that the costs to relocate San Quentin prisoners would likely exceed the proceeds the state would receive from selling the property by as much as $337 million.
"It's always been an uphill battle to stop this thing," Kinsey said. "The critical thing is the governor hasn't weighed in on this issue yet."
Contact Richard Halstead via e-mail at rhalstead@marinij.com
http://www.marinij.com/Stories/0,1413,234~24407~2436656,00.html