A Prison in Prescott Valley - Who Benefits?
Friday, October 12th, 2007
The proposed private prison announced by Gary Marks, Ex. Director of the Prescott Valley Economic Development Foundation (PVEDF), would be located on 100 acres of Fain Family Trust land (FFT), North and East of Fain Road and highway 69. Marks announced the 2,000 bed minimum security prison would employ 3-400 people and have an annual payroll of 10 Million. Inmates would be short term DUI and drug offenders. The proposal would expect the town of PV to pay for all costs of providing utilities to the site. This cost has not been calculated as of 10/12/07.
After several hours of web search, I have concluded very few would benefit initially and the town would suffer long term. First, crime. As a town grows, crime grows faster; about 30% faster than the population. The addition of a 2,000 (plus growth) bed jail would bring convicted felons into PV from all over the state and beyond. Friends and family of the inmates will be visiting and where will they “hang-out” or stay? How many will be “gang-bangers” or associates of professional criminals? Not considering the potential of prisoner escapes, their associates will be free to move about in our community.
We can expect our property values to drop. New businesses and new resident construction will slow. The Humbold Unified School District (HUSD) will be affected as all schools, students and parents prepare for the ‘possibilities” of added violence within 5 miles of most schools.
The addition of this facility will undo all the value added by the new event center, new shopping center(s) and hotel complex. If approved by the town council; the prison will be here for decades to come. Most facilities will grow in size and increase in risk to the community as “higher risk” inmates ase housed. Our options are to fight the project now; or perhaps live in a prison community forever.
WHAT YOU CAN DO !
I suggest calling the Mayor and council members (759-3100) seperately and asking for their vote to reject this project. Also, speak to your neighbors, your school and church to gain their support. You can also E-Mail the mayor and council at: council@pvaz.net Ask for the message to be “printed out” for the mayor and each council member. Plan on attending PV town meetings on, Thursday, October 18th and hopefully STOP a vote for approval on Thursday, October 25th. Council meetings start at 5:30 PM, in council chambers, first floor, in Town Hall.
In addition, you can write letters to the editor of the Daily Courier at editor@prescottaz.net or jherrman@prescottaz.net for the PV Tribune.
Final note; the “power brokers” includes the newspapers and the wealthy land owners; developers. Only YOU can stop this project by influencing the PV council members to vote NO!