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Connecting the dots on the players behind the new jail proposal
05/28/2010 9:15 AM by John M
Local blogger Kontra follows the money on the proposal to move the jail to Southside:
After making $250 million in cuts to education this year, the state uses a privatization law designed to aid public education and infrastructure to pay for a jail instead. Mayor Jones returns nearly a dozen renovation proposals he requested without even opening them, opting instead for an entirely new proposal from a handful of companies that helped elect him.
Why are we even considering building a jail 1/2 mile from the only part of the city that is seeing consistent economic growth and development – Shockoe Valley?!?! This area has had a steady stream of project proposals(some good some not so good) for new ball parks, shopping, public parks, apartments, green space renewal, urban gardening, public transportation hubs, VCU expansion, Slavery Museum, and more and how does our City respond… build a jail? Thats the quickest way to KILL any new development.
Outrageous.
#1, I don’t like it either but not because it’s within a half mile of Shockoe Valley. First of all, I think it’s a bit further than that – the current jail is actually walking distance from the bottom (although I wouldn’t consider taking that walk in daylight much less at night) and prob. is about half mile from the bottom. However, this proposed project area on Commerce Road is not walking distance to Shockoe slip or bottome or valley. It’s an area of warehouses. I’d have to set the trip guage on my car and drive it to see the actual distance, but I’ll guess that it’s more like at least a mile, maybe two. It’s across the river if you go over the 14th St. bridge, then down Hull to Commerce, and then further out Commerce by another mile towards Philip Morris.
My reasons for being against it are more along the lines listed in the linked article by blogger Kontra. Start with Henry Marsh making even more money off public buildings, that’s got a history that goes back thirty years to Sixth St. Market and probably even before that. He made a difference in civil rights years ago, but he’s not doing anything to help the east end or anything else other than his own pockets now.
Kontra has it right. Follow the money… see who else it leads you to.
Raise your hand if you’re surprised.
crd just asking. why are you scared to walk around this area?when you look at the amount of crime in the fan the hill and bottom seem tame. if you are referencing the recent shootings that occurred late night in the bottom RPD s recent show of forcewould seem to have laid that ghost to rest.
Buddy, I’ve lived on the hill for years and have no fears about walking, but I try to use common sense about where I walk after dark. Hence, I would not choose to walk on 17th from the jail to Broad St., not that I’d have any reason to take that route anyway as I don’t live in that area of the hill. Many years ago I lived in the fan, and was mugged, so I’m aware of the issues there too. And I agree with your comment about the current state of the bottom.