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HomeMy WebLinkAboutComments Miscellaneous 7/10/2007 Ralph David Jacobson 4146 So. E Street Springfield, OR 97478 AEee-lveo ~ -' ~"" OA#' 0~ July 6, 2007 : j ~ , ' 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, /tyCjAJ~~~~ Ralph ~a~i~cobson 747-4974 Date) ~ecei,ved:~/.2b~7 Planner: Al