Thread by @freddieoconnell

This afternoon, we’ll have a joint meeting of the #MetroCouncil Budget & Finance and Public Safety committees to discuss @emilyfor7’s BL2020-148, which seeks to prevent Metro from privately contracting for operation of prisons.

nashville.gov/Metro-Clerk/Le…

This is an important conversation about how to #CutTheContract that began for me as we worked to pass BL2017-542, which increased oversight and newly empowered #MetroCouncil to review such contracts.

nashville.gov/mc/ordinances/…

I prepared for this term working with @NashSheriff to understand the cost of locally assuming operations of the “Metro” Detention Facility (where locally sentenced state inmates are housed).

That work is captured in this report: readyforfreddie.ngpvanhost.com/files/dcso-cor…

Many of us have since learned there is another private contract supervised by Juvenile Court for juvenile detention.

The key question for me today is whether we can fulfill the obligations of BL2020-148 under an arrangement with @TNTDOC1 that limits the exposure of Metro taxpayers to new costs.

If we can, this is a no-brainer, and I will support @emilyfor7’s bill.

At that point, the key becomes working with @JohnCooper4Nash @NashSheriff and @SheilaCalloway on the intensive transition planning necessary to eliminate private detention facilities from operating in Nashville.

The bottom line: prison (and jail) beds should not be profit centers.

#CutTheContract