By Tonya Peters, Backgate Website
The Backgate has again confirmed through TDCJ that the Region III Central prison unit will be shut down completely by the end of summer. TDCJ Issued the below statement to the Backgate this morning. Employees will have until then to transfer to another prison facility or leave state employment. There was question as to whether or not the agency would be able to prolong the shutdown long enough to allow more time for employees to uproot their families and move to other facilities. That hope has faded as the legislature has set funding to end on the last day of August.
" The Legislature isn't going to fund the the operation of Central past August 31, 2011 " ~ Michelle Lyons, TDCJ Spokesperson
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The Senate and House have confirmed that budget negotiations have come to a close on the Central prison unit located in Sugarland. The unit which houses about 1,500 convicts and employs 300 will be shuttered by August 31, 2011, as stated by request of the first budget committee's directive. TDCJ has stated that employees will have the option of transferring to other surrounding facilities, retirement or loss of employment. The closure is said to save the state 50 million in tax payer dollars. Employees were hopeful that last minute negotiations with the Senate's version of the budget, which called for more rainy day fund money to be utilized, would spare the facility but those hopes were dashed yesterday morning. The Backgate spoke with Senate Criminal Justice Committee chair John Whitmire (D) about the measure to close Central some weeks back. He stated to us that he is for any decision that would benefit employment in that area and public safety. The Acreage that Central is located on is highly sought after prime real estate and has a buyers already lined up to make offers on it. Sugarland community leaders as well as investors may have played a vital part in convincing state leaders to surrender the historic property. More to come..
This is the biggest bunch of bull-shit.They sure did an about face on us,didn't they folks? This sets a precedent. First Central, then the rest will follow.You think it's going to stop here?! This is just the beginning. Those greedy,corrupt sons of B!@#*s pulled a fast one,and EVERYONE was in cahoots.It's about a land grab pure and simple.Money.Greed.Whitmire is a snake in the grass.Look at all his statements and you'll see.Just last week, it was looking great for us.Now.......They don't have the money to pay for operations of the next two years so they say(30 million)and are short of beds, yet they are going to leave MINERAL WELLS open, and provide the state with 15 million to LEASE beds! There's your privitization. This all started at the top.And all of us at the bottom are getting dumped on.TDCJ has is going down the toilet,folks.One unit at a time.God help us all,especially all of those at Central.
ReplyDeleteA bunch lies, from Governor Rick Perry to. Senator Whitmire.
ReplyDeleteIf only every democratic officer would have gotten off their a**** and voted for Bill White, the State of Texas might not be suffering. When will we learn?
ReplyDeleteWhat's your source for the projected august closure date? By August?! Seriously??? LOL
ReplyDeleteThe published closure date set by the legislature when the session began called for an August 31st deadline to take the unit offline. That date is still the only published date available as per the ledge. I too understand that doesn't allow for much time to get anything done, but that's whats on paper.Hopefully since it took so long to come to that conclusion they will push it back enough to allow those employees an out .. i had already requested an update on the deadlines at press time with this story but didn't get an answer back as of yet. When i do i will update this story..
ReplyDeleteTonya Peters, Backgate Website
Eventually the near by Jester units will follow but J-4 will remain there the longest since it's the newest one. I was told this a few years back. Can anyone say this is true. Are other Jester units going to be sold?
ReplyDelete"Senate Criminal Justice Committee chair John Whitmire (D)stated to us that he is for any decision that would benefit employment in that area and public safety." Whitmire is a liar.He's flip-flopped on this proposal like he's on a trampoline.This was all back-door negotiations.You can bet on it."The Acreage that Central is located on is highly sought after prime real estate and has a buyers already lined up to make offers on it. Sugarland community leaders as well as investors may have played a vital part in convincing state leaders to surrender the historic property." *BAM* There you go.There's no "may" to it *sic* Charlie Howard.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Jester units? You can bet your bottom dollar they are next on the chopping block.With two schools just built nearby(one can look across at JIII from the school on the corner) and a new road going in, and see the 'progress' the city is making.Sugarland wants to make a name for itself.Those rich folk don't care who they squash in their bid for greatness.
We knew it was a land grab from the beginning. Some of us wanted to believe that our elected profiteers would wait another two years or more to cash it out. Why would they do that? They might not even be around / get re-elected. The fiasco doesn't stop here though. The State will end up getting a price that is a fraction of the value of the property. Just watch. This kind of thing has been going on all over the country. The highest bid will not be accepted for vague reasons. Later, the buyers will get adjustments. The right way to sell a big block of prime real estate like this is to clear it and sell it piece by piece. But Governor Perry's cronies would not be able to make as much money that way. Intermediary development companies will be used in order to get the property to the ultimate users. Why should we be concerned? The property probably would continue to be used as a prison, but for the opportunity for profit for the elected officials that are pushing the sale. More money for the State could relieve budget shortages.
ReplyDeleteWITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I FEEL IT'S AN UNFAIR AND UNJUST ACT ON BEHALF OF THE REPRESENTATIVES TO RULE OUT CENTRAL EMPLOYEES AS THEY HAVE. THE STAFF HAVE FAMILIES AND HOMES AND ARE ESTABLISHED ONLY TO BE UPROOTED AND SENT TO GOD KNOWS WHERE WITHOUT A SAY SO AS TO THEIR WANTS. I DON'T THINK THE STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES AND HOW THEY WOULD BE AFFECTED WERE CONSIDERED AT ALL. I KNOW IT'S ALL POLITICAL AND IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY. TO GOD BE THE GLORY THAT THE SECURITY STAFF ARE BEING OFFERED A JOB BUT AT WHAT COST. WHO IS THIS CLOSURE REALLY BENEFITTING?
ReplyDeleteThe intermediary developers stand to gain the most. They will get their cash pretty quickly and be gone.
ReplyDeleteWell, folks...........that's it then.The politicians lied to us, and are going to get away with it again.They don't give a rat's ass about who they hurt.And neither do those sitting at the top of TDCJ! They aren't going to do what is best for their employees.They are going to give them an option, ONE option, and if that doesn't work for those employees........buh bye! This state agency is a sham.It's in a deplorable state,and it's just damn shameful.There won't be a follow up on this.It's going to go quietly into the night.Bet you noone digs into the politics that led to the closure, and subsequent selling of the land!Our so-called elected officials did whatever the hell they wanted, and we the people are paying the price.But, in the end, we have noone to blame but ourselves.There's just no unity anymore.And our employees won't make a big enough stink state-wide to make a ripple in the pond. and those bigwigs are laughing their asses off at us right now.It's over.
ReplyDeleteThe sell of the Central Unit is a political trade off and has saved our ERS benefits for the next two years. Unless you wish to pay $400 extra a month for you and your family's insurance, be glad Central is being closed!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis was an organized political trade off. The day the conference committee decided to close Central, they came up with the funding for the insurance. By the way, the 15 million will not be used for Dawson or Mineral Wells. Tdcj will have the room due to expanding existing bedspace, the increased parole
rates, and deporting criminal aliens.
Dawson (private) and Mineral Wells (private) will be closed next session. If you want to be angry at someone, Whitmire is not the person. The budget cuts were the result of the Tea Party. Next time East Texas does not need to vote for so many Tea Party nuts like Erwin Cain, Brian Hughes, James White, and Wayne Christian. These are the politicians who are pushing for privatization and the cuts on state government. Do your homework before you run your mouth!!!! Be glad Whitmire is in the way of Erwin Cain's plan to privitize TDCJ and next time don't vote for these Tea Party Libertarians.
Well said
ReplyDelete10months and I'm gone with my 20
ReplyDeleteLMAO! Idiot.It WAS Whitmire that was involved in all the political posturing to help close Central Unit.And the 15 mil ISN'T going to be used to lease beds from private facilities for over-crowding? Really? So, the legislature lied?! *gasp* Maybe the paper reported that wrong.Hmmmm. And the closing of the Central unit saved our ERS benefits for the next two years? Holy Cow! Central plays such a pivotal role in the state of Texas!! Hey, let's close down all the Jesters next, and then expans outwards like mad.Let's shut down the entire correctional system! YEAH...that'll save our ERS benefits.Oh wait...........we won't have benefits when there aren't any jobs.And oh yeah, they're going to start sending the illegal immigrant criminals back where they came from? LOL. Not gonna happen. Early parole? there goes the crime rate sky-rocketing.Simply genius.Must be a crony of Whitmire, Madden and Howard. How much they pay you to support them,eh?
ReplyDelete