HomeMy WebLinkAboutComments Miscellaneous 7/10/2007
Ralph David Jacobson
4146 So. E Street
Springfield, OR 97478
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July 6, 2007
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Springfield City Council
225 5th Street
Springfield, OR 97477
Dear Mayor and City Council:
As a resident of Springfield, I would like to say a few words in support of the
closing of the 300 block of B Street as part of the construction of the new
City Justice Facility.
I was a teacher for the California Youth Authority at its Camarillo facility in
the 80's and 90's. There were occasions when a ward would set fire to his or
her room and the dorm had to be evacuated. The wards were removed from
their building and secured in the fenced yard behind the dorm. This was for
security purposes: to keep the wards safe and to keep the staff safe. Be-
cause we were enclosed inside a 16-foot chain-linked fence topped with razor
wire, there was no chance of danger to the community.
I see a potential similar situation with the new jail. If there is a fire inside the
jail, or if there is a bomb scare (or a real bombing), there must be a secure
place for the misdem.eanants to be placed after they are removed from the
jail. Having a fenced area in the city block north of the Jail/Justice Center,
With the fence contiguous to the buildings, would be the logical place for the
safety of the inmates, the staff, and the community if there is a disaster.
Having such a safe and secured area attached and adjacent to the Jail/Justice
Center far outweighs any inconvenience that might occur from the closing of
one block of B Street. It is for this reason that I support closing the 300
Block of B Street as part of the construction of the City Justice Facility.
si7rrely,
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Ralph ~a~i~cobson
747-4974
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