Thread by @ForARPeople1

Good morning Arkansas!

Last night, a packed house of community members in Charleston made their extreme displeasure with Governor Sanders known. She secretly decided to stick a 3k bed prison right outside the town (Charleston's population is listed at ~2600). #arpx

Here's our thread covering the events of last night.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/1854670…

In just about 45 minutes, the Board of Corrections will meet on Zoom to vote on whether or not to proceed.

Here's the page containing the Zoom link:


But you can also follow this thread for updates.doc.arkansas.gov/events/board-o…

Last night, BoC Chairman Benny Magness expressed the need to move quickly on this issue, but we've been thinking about it all night. The prison crowding issue has been a problem for years; why the rush now? Why the secrecy?

Seems likely, in our opinion, that she's rushing to get this irreversibly in progress before the legislative session to:

A) be sure legislators can't close the pursestrings on the project out of frustration; and

B) do something she can say is "solving" the crime issue.

The issue with (A) is that it's super shady and anti-democratic. Legislators representing the area found out about the plan right before the formal announcement; Joe Profiri, representing Sanders' office, admitted last night that the decision was made at least 3 months ago. Community members never got a say.

Furthermore, while we obviously can't speak for the community, had Sanders followed usual procedure, it's possible she could've convinced the community. Had their concerns about pollution, infrastructure, + land use impacts been addressed, 800 more jobs is a big deal!

Issue with (B) is that locking up more people doesn't actually "solve" crime. We feel like a broken record, but the best way to reduce crime and recidivism rates is to address root causes - poverty, mental health, etc - which both Sanders + ArLeg have refused to even consider.

Unless Magness has changed his tune since last night, this seems destined for litigation between the community and BoC. Hard to say how successful that will be. Regardless, Sanders made no friends yesterday in Charleston.

People starting to filter into the Zoom (you can find the link above in this thread). Five minutes to go and around 130 people here already, several media accounts listed.

Up to 240 participants. No word yet on that threatened injunction for last night, but most filings aren't available till 9 am.

First up: hiring a public information officer. Rand Champion is the Board's selection. There are no Nay votes.

300 participants so far.

Next up: donations of land to Calico Rock location, I think - Magness cut in and out a bit there. But motion passes with no Nays.

And here we go: acceptance of property presented to BoC in Franklin for the prison site.

Magness opens the floor for any questions or comments.

BoC member Lee Watson: he says currently no facilities in Western AR. Notes Sebastian, Washington, and Benton counties contribute something like 30+% of inmates, pushing back against narrative that majority of inmates come from LR metro. A facility, therefore, is needed closer to those counties.

Says he learned of the site selection day before it was announced. Most surprising to him, he says, was the fact the contract had been approved 90 days ago. Should've been more public discussion. He says he hasn't had sufficient time to make a decision.

McCastlain: surprising it was kept as quiet as it was for 90 days. Says she appreciated the opportunity to hear from Franklin Co, and "I listened to them." But over past few years, they've heard from sheriffs that want to keep their communities safe.

Says they've met with county officials and sheriffs. More recently have heard from legislators that wanted to begin the build. Land has been purchased, and justice community makes tough decisions every day re: bed space.

BoC has opportunity to alleviate the burden at this time, so she's moving to accept the Franklin Co site. It's already been purchased, and it's time to act.

Gov. has committed to keeping us informed, she says (WHAT ON THIS GREEN EARTH)

Dubs Byers seconds her motion, but he has a statement.

He doesn't like the way this was done. Says he had some good convos last night with community members; they were courteous in discussion. He also found out day before it was announced. Should've been more discussion with county leaders and legislators.

Says he got a letter from Sanders this morning encouraging BoC to move forward. Asks if Mike Barber is on the call.

Also asks for people named Shelby, Courtney, and Lindsey.

Moderator says the Zoom link is at capacity at 300 people.

Asks Courtney (member of Gov's Office I think): Beyers says valid questions re: infrastructure and issues that need to be addressed: internet, transport, water, sewage, etc.

"Does the Gov's Office commit to helping us work through these to satisfactorily bring them to conclusion for benefit of community?"

She responds yes, GO is committed to making sure project happens in best way possible. Sanders is aware this is a huge undertaking, first prison in 2 decades. Dept. of Health and Transport have given them initial assessments.

Byers says: "Thank you, I want to remind you you had 300 witnesses that heard you say that."

Byers asks for Mike Barber, who's part of the company that will be moving the construction along. He visited the site yesterday. Asks: Do you see any insurmountable issues that will cause delays or cause project that will impact project?

Barber: didn't see anything that is insurmountable, but not his expertise. Next step is a technical assessment that will examine soil composition (affects structural integrity, drainage issues), effects on water from construction and placement, and will impact structure design

(feels like this should've been done before land purchase!!!) Says this will also affect cost

Sen King brought this up last night; this is how projects balloon in cost!

Magness says there's still a possibility the site won't work, but the process needs to get started.

Watson asks Barber: Have you ever gone into a site that ends up being rejected because of soil composition?

A: not specifically; possibility that certain kinds of structures won't be built because of soil composition.

Watson: issues related to that that will increase cost?

A: absolutely. "People can throw out numbers, but those won't be right until the studies are done."

Paging @BryanBKing!

@BryanBKing Lindsay Wallace now: she says it's time to take next step in the process. This kicks off studies and next steps moving toward final build. She says this vote is the proper next step.

@BryanBKing Byers now: I live in SE Ark next to 5k inmates. He's lived there for 40+ years, raised a family, all his kids have college degrees and got good educations here. Having prisons 5 miles nearby, he can say advantages far outweigh disadvantages.

@BryanBKing His community hasn't been changed because of these prisons. Crime hasn't increased or anything. So if this does go through, he hopes Franklin Co. members will look back and say that this has benefited them.

@BryanBKing Rev. Broomfield now: he watched the town hall last night. Wants to say something but got cut off. Tech issues.

@BryanBKing No idea what he said there, sorry folks.

Says Pine Bluff community is now glad of a prison nearby. Similar vibes from Dr. Byers, it seems. He's still cutting in and out.

Says he wishes a new prison wasn't necessary, but it is.

Asks Dexter Payne to talk (Director).

Says his concern is staffing. Good location otherwise, but 800 staff required is a big lift. In the end, he thinks community will appreciate it.

Broomfield: last thing. Do we have a commitment from Gov's Office that Board of Corrections from this day on that they'll know what's going on.

Magness says there's a statute that ensures that'll be the case. Broomfield says their job is to rep the people, and to do that they have to know what's going on.

Broomfield still: anything we can do to better keep up to date the community throughout the process?

Magness: "I don't know how to answer that question right now." Most communities don't start out really liking a prison getting built, but has letters from Mayors of Calico Rock and Malvern supporting their local prisons.

Magness says he understands the social shock, but knows the benefits will eventually outweigh downsides.

Brandon Tollett now: also shares appreciation for citizens of Franklin Co. Had a family emergency that prevented him from attending last night. He also wasn't told before it happened.

Says he feels they've gotten positive answers from Gov's Office - "willing to be a good community member from this time forward" but THEY WEREN'T UNTIL THEY HAD TO BE.

Voting now: Watson abstains from the vote; everyone else votes yes. Motion carries to accept the property in Franklin Co for a potential prison site.

If anyone finds a spine anywhere in Arkansas State Government, please let us know.

Meeting is adjourned.

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