Special to Vanguard: Supervisor Rexroad Responds to Comments on Re-Entry Facility

On Friday, the Vanguard covered a proposed Re-entry facility that was approved by the County Board of Supervisors and funded by state money from Assembly Bill 900. Part of the discussion that emerged on Friday had to do with the location. Some of the comments suggested that Woodland would be a good location for the facility and suggested that if people such as Supervisor Matt Rexroad support such a facility, they ought to put it in Woodland. Supervisor Rexroad actually went to the Woodland City Council to ask them to put the facility in Woodland, but there was no interest in doing so. Then again, Supervisors Helen Thomson and Mariko Yamada also support the bill, but to the best of anyone’s understand have not requested that the city of Davis house the facility.

Here is Supervisor Rexroad’s response where he calls out Davis residents for supporting social programs but not being willing to house them in Davis.

I just took some time to read over these comments [on the re-entry facility] and am struck by one thing.

Most of you folks that read this are from Davis. Some of you are questioning why this project should not be located in Woodland. That is a fair question.

Another fair question is when the people of Davis are going to step up to the plate to provide land use that facilitates social services?

Woodland actually has a mission that provides food and housing for hundreds. Does Davis have a similar permanent facility? No. It moves around from place to place so as not to upset any one neighborhood.

Woodland is the location of a large facility for the Yolo County Housing Authority. Davis has a few locations that are a fraction of the size of the one in Woodland or West Sacramento.

The Housing Authority just purchased a home in Woodland and will likely purchase one in West Sacramento next. This was Prop 63 money for the mentally ill. Davis?

I don’t want to hear about a bunsh of new senior housing either. Woodland has plenty of that and places it almost without objection from the community.

I hear many of you claiming that you desire social services to be provided — just not in Davis. That part is left out. Somewhere else in Yolo County would be fine.

The largest piece of industrial zoned property in the unincorporated part of Yolo County is Covell Village. How about that location?

The re-entry facility is something that we are going to work through over the coming weeks and even years.

My question for you is — what land is Davis going to set aside for some of these things?

When some of you question my desire to do these things I simply point to the leadership Woodland took to place the Wayfarer Center over the objections of a few neighbors. My vote was the deciding one and my involvement was great. Woodland did that. Davis?

It seems funny to me that for all the social programs that the people that read this blog are likely to advocate for — the use of land in your precious city never seems to be part of the message.

Matt Rexroad

About The Author

David Greenwald is the founder, editor, and executive director of the Davis Vanguard. He founded the Vanguard in 2006. David Greenwald moved to Davis in 1996 to attend Graduate School at UC Davis in Political Science. He lives in South Davis with his wife Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald and three children.

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56 Comments

  1. Zamorons for Jebus

    Right on, Matt! Why should us Zamorons have to put up with the facility in our backyards? Our property values are more important than public duty! Let those libruls in Davis have the facility. Maybe they can teach them a little about livin’ green, while we out here pump groundwater and oppose regulations! Jebus be praised!

  2. Zamorons for Jebus

    Right on, Matt! Why should us Zamorons have to put up with the facility in our backyards? Our property values are more important than public duty! Let those libruls in Davis have the facility. Maybe they can teach them a little about livin’ green, while we out here pump groundwater and oppose regulations! Jebus be praised!

  3. Zamorons for Jebus

    Right on, Matt! Why should us Zamorons have to put up with the facility in our backyards? Our property values are more important than public duty! Let those libruls in Davis have the facility. Maybe they can teach them a little about livin’ green, while we out here pump groundwater and oppose regulations! Jebus be praised!

  4. Zamorons for Jebus

    Right on, Matt! Why should us Zamorons have to put up with the facility in our backyards? Our property values are more important than public duty! Let those libruls in Davis have the facility. Maybe they can teach them a little about livin’ green, while we out here pump groundwater and oppose regulations! Jebus be praised!

  5. Anonymous

    Matt,

    Davis has Community Meals which operating out of St. Martin's Episcopal Church for decades located in West/Central Davis on Hawthorne Lane. This organization provides free meals to hundreds on a weekly basis.

    Grace Alive serves homeless during the day at 5th & D Street

    Davis has a permanent homeless shelter on H Street. And a cold weather shelter that opens up in October-April in a house on 5th & D Street. The cold weather shelter provides shelter to individuals even if they are on drugs or alcohol during the cold weather months.

    Each of the above locations is in residential neighborhoods surrounded by homes.

    Davis has Summerhouse, serving mentally ill adults, at two locations has been operating for decades. One home is on 8th Street (near J Street) and the other home is on 11th/12th Street. Each of these locations is in a residential neighborhood. Summerhouse recently underwent an expansion so that it could provide services for a larger population.

    Davis recently build an apartment complex dedicated to move mentally ill homeless out of shelters and into permanent housing. The apartment complex has services on site to help residents with their needs.

    Each of these locations was established with little neighborhood objection. The cold weather shelter went in without any neighborhood objection, despite its serving a substance using population.

    Davis has Families First which is a level 14 facility provides services to emotionally troubled children and Progress Ranch, a level 12 facility, which serves emotionally trouble boys.

    Davis does not have one area of town that is low-income housing, preferring to spread low income and section 8 housing to every neighborhood, lessening the burden and also lessening the stigma for the tenants. Children from low income families attend every school in Davis.

    Matt, I think there is a lot you you need to learn about the Davis community.

  6. Anonymous

    Matt,

    Davis has Community Meals which operating out of St. Martin's Episcopal Church for decades located in West/Central Davis on Hawthorne Lane. This organization provides free meals to hundreds on a weekly basis.

    Grace Alive serves homeless during the day at 5th & D Street

    Davis has a permanent homeless shelter on H Street. And a cold weather shelter that opens up in October-April in a house on 5th & D Street. The cold weather shelter provides shelter to individuals even if they are on drugs or alcohol during the cold weather months.

    Each of the above locations is in residential neighborhoods surrounded by homes.

    Davis has Summerhouse, serving mentally ill adults, at two locations has been operating for decades. One home is on 8th Street (near J Street) and the other home is on 11th/12th Street. Each of these locations is in a residential neighborhood. Summerhouse recently underwent an expansion so that it could provide services for a larger population.

    Davis recently build an apartment complex dedicated to move mentally ill homeless out of shelters and into permanent housing. The apartment complex has services on site to help residents with their needs.

    Each of these locations was established with little neighborhood objection. The cold weather shelter went in without any neighborhood objection, despite its serving a substance using population.

    Davis has Families First which is a level 14 facility provides services to emotionally troubled children and Progress Ranch, a level 12 facility, which serves emotionally trouble boys.

    Davis does not have one area of town that is low-income housing, preferring to spread low income and section 8 housing to every neighborhood, lessening the burden and also lessening the stigma for the tenants. Children from low income families attend every school in Davis.

    Matt, I think there is a lot you you need to learn about the Davis community.

  7. Anonymous

    Matt,

    Davis has Community Meals which operating out of St. Martin's Episcopal Church for decades located in West/Central Davis on Hawthorne Lane. This organization provides free meals to hundreds on a weekly basis.

    Grace Alive serves homeless during the day at 5th & D Street

    Davis has a permanent homeless shelter on H Street. And a cold weather shelter that opens up in October-April in a house on 5th & D Street. The cold weather shelter provides shelter to individuals even if they are on drugs or alcohol during the cold weather months.

    Each of the above locations is in residential neighborhoods surrounded by homes.

    Davis has Summerhouse, serving mentally ill adults, at two locations has been operating for decades. One home is on 8th Street (near J Street) and the other home is on 11th/12th Street. Each of these locations is in a residential neighborhood. Summerhouse recently underwent an expansion so that it could provide services for a larger population.

    Davis recently build an apartment complex dedicated to move mentally ill homeless out of shelters and into permanent housing. The apartment complex has services on site to help residents with their needs.

    Each of these locations was established with little neighborhood objection. The cold weather shelter went in without any neighborhood objection, despite its serving a substance using population.

    Davis has Families First which is a level 14 facility provides services to emotionally troubled children and Progress Ranch, a level 12 facility, which serves emotionally trouble boys.

    Davis does not have one area of town that is low-income housing, preferring to spread low income and section 8 housing to every neighborhood, lessening the burden and also lessening the stigma for the tenants. Children from low income families attend every school in Davis.

    Matt, I think there is a lot you you need to learn about the Davis community.

  8. Anonymous

    Matt,

    Davis has Community Meals which operating out of St. Martin's Episcopal Church for decades located in West/Central Davis on Hawthorne Lane. This organization provides free meals to hundreds on a weekly basis.

    Grace Alive serves homeless during the day at 5th & D Street

    Davis has a permanent homeless shelter on H Street. And a cold weather shelter that opens up in October-April in a house on 5th & D Street. The cold weather shelter provides shelter to individuals even if they are on drugs or alcohol during the cold weather months.

    Each of the above locations is in residential neighborhoods surrounded by homes.

    Davis has Summerhouse, serving mentally ill adults, at two locations has been operating for decades. One home is on 8th Street (near J Street) and the other home is on 11th/12th Street. Each of these locations is in a residential neighborhood. Summerhouse recently underwent an expansion so that it could provide services for a larger population.

    Davis recently build an apartment complex dedicated to move mentally ill homeless out of shelters and into permanent housing. The apartment complex has services on site to help residents with their needs.

    Each of these locations was established with little neighborhood objection. The cold weather shelter went in without any neighborhood objection, despite its serving a substance using population.

    Davis has Families First which is a level 14 facility provides services to emotionally troubled children and Progress Ranch, a level 12 facility, which serves emotionally trouble boys.

    Davis does not have one area of town that is low-income housing, preferring to spread low income and section 8 housing to every neighborhood, lessening the burden and also lessening the stigma for the tenants. Children from low income families attend every school in Davis.

    Matt, I think there is a lot you you need to learn about the Davis community.

  9. Richard

    OK, anonymous, since Davis accepted these other programs with little or no objection, I anticipate that I will soon be hearing about the willingness of Davis to accept the re-entry facility

    –Richard Estes

  10. Anonymous

    Anon. 9:13 AM

    More political posturing from Rexroad. He knows well enough that Whitcomb would not put a re-entry facility on his Covell Village property.. BUT.. his posturing CAN be seen as more scare tactics to make Davis voters think that their only choice is Whitcomb’s plans for a senior housing development(and phasing in rights to the rest of his 400 acres) or the re-entry project.
    …..Another fact that Anon. 9:13 AM left out is that Davis’ own ordinance mandates a significantly higher % of low and very low income affordable housing in its residential projects than the State calls for. Rexroad sounds uncharacteristically ranting.. is this a calculated move to reestablish his credentials with Republican and “blue dog” Democratic voters after his recent political foray into more “liberal” territory??

  11. Richard

    OK, anonymous, since Davis accepted these other programs with little or no objection, I anticipate that I will soon be hearing about the willingness of Davis to accept the re-entry facility

    –Richard Estes

  12. Anonymous

    Anon. 9:13 AM

    More political posturing from Rexroad. He knows well enough that Whitcomb would not put a re-entry facility on his Covell Village property.. BUT.. his posturing CAN be seen as more scare tactics to make Davis voters think that their only choice is Whitcomb’s plans for a senior housing development(and phasing in rights to the rest of his 400 acres) or the re-entry project.
    …..Another fact that Anon. 9:13 AM left out is that Davis’ own ordinance mandates a significantly higher % of low and very low income affordable housing in its residential projects than the State calls for. Rexroad sounds uncharacteristically ranting.. is this a calculated move to reestablish his credentials with Republican and “blue dog” Democratic voters after his recent political foray into more “liberal” territory??

  13. Richard

    OK, anonymous, since Davis accepted these other programs with little or no objection, I anticipate that I will soon be hearing about the willingness of Davis to accept the re-entry facility

    –Richard Estes

  14. Anonymous

    Anon. 9:13 AM

    More political posturing from Rexroad. He knows well enough that Whitcomb would not put a re-entry facility on his Covell Village property.. BUT.. his posturing CAN be seen as more scare tactics to make Davis voters think that their only choice is Whitcomb’s plans for a senior housing development(and phasing in rights to the rest of his 400 acres) or the re-entry project.
    …..Another fact that Anon. 9:13 AM left out is that Davis’ own ordinance mandates a significantly higher % of low and very low income affordable housing in its residential projects than the State calls for. Rexroad sounds uncharacteristically ranting.. is this a calculated move to reestablish his credentials with Republican and “blue dog” Democratic voters after his recent political foray into more “liberal” territory??

  15. Richard

    OK, anonymous, since Davis accepted these other programs with little or no objection, I anticipate that I will soon be hearing about the willingness of Davis to accept the re-entry facility

    –Richard Estes

  16. Anonymous

    Anon. 9:13 AM

    More political posturing from Rexroad. He knows well enough that Whitcomb would not put a re-entry facility on his Covell Village property.. BUT.. his posturing CAN be seen as more scare tactics to make Davis voters think that their only choice is Whitcomb’s plans for a senior housing development(and phasing in rights to the rest of his 400 acres) or the re-entry project.
    …..Another fact that Anon. 9:13 AM left out is that Davis’ own ordinance mandates a significantly higher % of low and very low income affordable housing in its residential projects than the State calls for. Rexroad sounds uncharacteristically ranting.. is this a calculated move to reestablish his credentials with Republican and “blue dog” Democratic voters after his recent political foray into more “liberal” territory??

  17. Richard

    Another fact that Anon. 9:13 AM left out is that Davis’ own ordinance mandates a significantly higher % of low and very low income affordable housing in its residential projects than the State calls for.

    Certainly very praiseworthy, reinforcing my belief that Davis will step up to the plate and accept this facility instead of allowing it to be foisted upon the powerless people of Zamora and Dunnigan.

    After all, if Davis has done the right thing in the past, we can anticipate that it will do the right thing in the future as well.

    –Richard Estes

  18. Richard

    Another fact that Anon. 9:13 AM left out is that Davis’ own ordinance mandates a significantly higher % of low and very low income affordable housing in its residential projects than the State calls for.

    Certainly very praiseworthy, reinforcing my belief that Davis will step up to the plate and accept this facility instead of allowing it to be foisted upon the powerless people of Zamora and Dunnigan.

    After all, if Davis has done the right thing in the past, we can anticipate that it will do the right thing in the future as well.

    –Richard Estes

  19. Richard

    Another fact that Anon. 9:13 AM left out is that Davis’ own ordinance mandates a significantly higher % of low and very low income affordable housing in its residential projects than the State calls for.

    Certainly very praiseworthy, reinforcing my belief that Davis will step up to the plate and accept this facility instead of allowing it to be foisted upon the powerless people of Zamora and Dunnigan.

    After all, if Davis has done the right thing in the past, we can anticipate that it will do the right thing in the future as well.

    –Richard Estes

  20. Richard

    Another fact that Anon. 9:13 AM left out is that Davis’ own ordinance mandates a significantly higher % of low and very low income affordable housing in its residential projects than the State calls for.

    Certainly very praiseworthy, reinforcing my belief that Davis will step up to the plate and accept this facility instead of allowing it to be foisted upon the powerless people of Zamora and Dunnigan.

    After all, if Davis has done the right thing in the past, we can anticipate that it will do the right thing in the future as well.

    –Richard Estes

  21. Anonymous

    I have often thought a program structured toward transitioning from prison life and societal expectations neccesary. I am pleased that it is to become a reality.

    Regarding location, the most common sentiment is “not in my backyard” and “most just end up back in prison anyway.” If we work together we can change those beliefs. As a mother, and grandparent I to have concerns. But as a member of society I have a responsibility to put up or shut up. Woodland offers several treatment facilities for various social problems, they already house clients that are coming directly from prison.

    As previously stated, there this is no area in Davis that is “low income” or segregated, so Davis is the obvious choice. Davis is well known for it’s acceptance of a diverse population, offering an open minded community which will stimulate the greatest success.

  22. Anonymous

    I have often thought a program structured toward transitioning from prison life and societal expectations neccesary. I am pleased that it is to become a reality.

    Regarding location, the most common sentiment is “not in my backyard” and “most just end up back in prison anyway.” If we work together we can change those beliefs. As a mother, and grandparent I to have concerns. But as a member of society I have a responsibility to put up or shut up. Woodland offers several treatment facilities for various social problems, they already house clients that are coming directly from prison.

    As previously stated, there this is no area in Davis that is “low income” or segregated, so Davis is the obvious choice. Davis is well known for it’s acceptance of a diverse population, offering an open minded community which will stimulate the greatest success.

  23. Anonymous

    I have often thought a program structured toward transitioning from prison life and societal expectations neccesary. I am pleased that it is to become a reality.

    Regarding location, the most common sentiment is “not in my backyard” and “most just end up back in prison anyway.” If we work together we can change those beliefs. As a mother, and grandparent I to have concerns. But as a member of society I have a responsibility to put up or shut up. Woodland offers several treatment facilities for various social problems, they already house clients that are coming directly from prison.

    As previously stated, there this is no area in Davis that is “low income” or segregated, so Davis is the obvious choice. Davis is well known for it’s acceptance of a diverse population, offering an open minded community which will stimulate the greatest success.

  24. Anonymous

    I have often thought a program structured toward transitioning from prison life and societal expectations neccesary. I am pleased that it is to become a reality.

    Regarding location, the most common sentiment is “not in my backyard” and “most just end up back in prison anyway.” If we work together we can change those beliefs. As a mother, and grandparent I to have concerns. But as a member of society I have a responsibility to put up or shut up. Woodland offers several treatment facilities for various social problems, they already house clients that are coming directly from prison.

    As previously stated, there this is no area in Davis that is “low income” or segregated, so Davis is the obvious choice. Davis is well known for it’s acceptance of a diverse population, offering an open minded community which will stimulate the greatest success.

  25. Anonymous

    To clarify my posting above at 9:13 am.

    Summer House is a home for developmentally disabled adults. It started in Woodland, but Davis has a house too.

    The two homes for mentally ill adults are Pine Tree Gardens, started by Bill & Pat Williams.

    There is so much more – STEAC, the Free Clinic (now Communicare Clinics), CHOC, and more.

    Go here to see a history of Davis citizens efforts to offer services to its less advantaged along with funding and assistance from our City government:
    http://www.cityofdavis.org/cdd/cultural/30years/chapt05.cfm

    Matt, Read up and then tell us where we need to do better.

  26. Anonymous

    To clarify my posting above at 9:13 am.

    Summer House is a home for developmentally disabled adults. It started in Woodland, but Davis has a house too.

    The two homes for mentally ill adults are Pine Tree Gardens, started by Bill & Pat Williams.

    There is so much more – STEAC, the Free Clinic (now Communicare Clinics), CHOC, and more.

    Go here to see a history of Davis citizens efforts to offer services to its less advantaged along with funding and assistance from our City government:
    http://www.cityofdavis.org/cdd/cultural/30years/chapt05.cfm

    Matt, Read up and then tell us where we need to do better.

  27. Anonymous

    To clarify my posting above at 9:13 am.

    Summer House is a home for developmentally disabled adults. It started in Woodland, but Davis has a house too.

    The two homes for mentally ill adults are Pine Tree Gardens, started by Bill & Pat Williams.

    There is so much more – STEAC, the Free Clinic (now Communicare Clinics), CHOC, and more.

    Go here to see a history of Davis citizens efforts to offer services to its less advantaged along with funding and assistance from our City government:
    http://www.cityofdavis.org/cdd/cultural/30years/chapt05.cfm

    Matt, Read up and then tell us where we need to do better.

  28. Anonymous

    To clarify my posting above at 9:13 am.

    Summer House is a home for developmentally disabled adults. It started in Woodland, but Davis has a house too.

    The two homes for mentally ill adults are Pine Tree Gardens, started by Bill & Pat Williams.

    There is so much more – STEAC, the Free Clinic (now Communicare Clinics), CHOC, and more.

    Go here to see a history of Davis citizens efforts to offer services to its less advantaged along with funding and assistance from our City government:
    http://www.cityofdavis.org/cdd/cultural/30years/chapt05.cfm

    Matt, Read up and then tell us where we need to do better.

  29. Anonymous

    Don’t forget to mention that the abused women’s shelter moved from West Sac to Davis a while back – a brand new facility tucked into a residential neighborhood. We also have the Yolo County Crisis Nursery, providing care for children under 5 years old whose family’s are in crisis.

  30. Anonymous

    Don’t forget to mention that the abused women’s shelter moved from West Sac to Davis a while back – a brand new facility tucked into a residential neighborhood. We also have the Yolo County Crisis Nursery, providing care for children under 5 years old whose family’s are in crisis.

  31. Anonymous

    Don’t forget to mention that the abused women’s shelter moved from West Sac to Davis a while back – a brand new facility tucked into a residential neighborhood. We also have the Yolo County Crisis Nursery, providing care for children under 5 years old whose family’s are in crisis.

  32. Anonymous

    Don’t forget to mention that the abused women’s shelter moved from West Sac to Davis a while back – a brand new facility tucked into a residential neighborhood. We also have the Yolo County Crisis Nursery, providing care for children under 5 years old whose family’s are in crisis.

  33. CountrySunshine

    Curious that those county supervisors most willing to approve the build out of a re-entry facility in the Zamora and Dunnigan and other rural locations in the county are amongst those who are compellingly against establishing the facility within their own districts. The county supervisors certainly took the bait on getting the $30 million in AB 900 funds from the state, but they are seemingly remiss in taking on the concurrent responsibility of selecting a suitable location for the facility. If the NIMBY (not in my back yard) syndrome is alive and well it is certainly exemplified by the conduct of all of the supervisors with exception of District 5 Supervisor, Duane Chamberlain. Those of us who normally find politics abhorrent, get validation of our perspectives by the shameless antics of the collective composition of the Board.

    Ironically, the intended beneficiaries of the proposed re-entry facility are those inmates scheduled for release back into the county. But most of those convicted felons that do come from Yolo County will predominately be from the metropolitan areas of the county such as Davis, West Sacramento, and Woodland. It is assumed that many of those same individuals will also have families that live in the general area of these same urban communities. In terms of the infrastructure necessary to support such a facility, there will need for an adequate capacity to support the essential utilities of water and sewage. Special needs and related support services for the inmates and their families will be an ongoing necessity. Transportation issues related to inmate visitors and re-entry facility employees is even another facet of the siting criteria for the establishment of the facility. There are other issues as well, but by now you should get the point. None of this infrastructure exists in most rural parts of the county. But Supervisors McGowan, Rexroad, Thomson and Yamada up until now would have you believe otherwise.

    Notwithstanding all the previously stated reasons for not building the re-entry facility in a rural part of the county is the very fact that the text of both AB 900 and the State of California Penal Code require, to the extent that is reasonable, that a re-entry facility be established in an urban setting. The Board of Supervisors has been basically trying to sidestep due diligence and the statutory requirements for the establishment of such a facility by prematurely focusing almost exclusively on a rural location. Of course, the real reason is pure politics … each of the aforementioned supporting supervisors are trying to duck answering to their own constituents. Nonetheless, if the re-entry facility is worth the $30 million payoff, then the supervisors ought to do their jobs. Enough of the self-aggrandizing platitudes. If the supervisors can’t do it right, then perhaps they ought not to do it at all.

    In terms of the AB 900 legislation that has set this controversy in motion, I think that there are some fundamental flaws. Re-education and preparation for re-entry back into society is something that is not likely going to be achieved in the final year of an inmate’s incarceration. This process should realistically commence on the day of assimilation into the prison population. And because the facility would be under the umbrella of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, there is really no guarantee that this designation as a re-entry facility will hold if there is a definitive future need for more prison expansions. All this being said, I can’t fault Supervisor Rexroad for trying to focus the dialogue back toward locating a reasonable site for the re-entry facility. On the other hand, if it were just me, I’d just throw in the cards and walk away.

  34. CountrySunshine

    Curious that those county supervisors most willing to approve the build out of a re-entry facility in the Zamora and Dunnigan and other rural locations in the county are amongst those who are compellingly against establishing the facility within their own districts. The county supervisors certainly took the bait on getting the $30 million in AB 900 funds from the state, but they are seemingly remiss in taking on the concurrent responsibility of selecting a suitable location for the facility. If the NIMBY (not in my back yard) syndrome is alive and well it is certainly exemplified by the conduct of all of the supervisors with exception of District 5 Supervisor, Duane Chamberlain. Those of us who normally find politics abhorrent, get validation of our perspectives by the shameless antics of the collective composition of the Board.

    Ironically, the intended beneficiaries of the proposed re-entry facility are those inmates scheduled for release back into the county. But most of those convicted felons that do come from Yolo County will predominately be from the metropolitan areas of the county such as Davis, West Sacramento, and Woodland. It is assumed that many of those same individuals will also have families that live in the general area of these same urban communities. In terms of the infrastructure necessary to support such a facility, there will need for an adequate capacity to support the essential utilities of water and sewage. Special needs and related support services for the inmates and their families will be an ongoing necessity. Transportation issues related to inmate visitors and re-entry facility employees is even another facet of the siting criteria for the establishment of the facility. There are other issues as well, but by now you should get the point. None of this infrastructure exists in most rural parts of the county. But Supervisors McGowan, Rexroad, Thomson and Yamada up until now would have you believe otherwise.

    Notwithstanding all the previously stated reasons for not building the re-entry facility in a rural part of the county is the very fact that the text of both AB 900 and the State of California Penal Code require, to the extent that is reasonable, that a re-entry facility be established in an urban setting. The Board of Supervisors has been basically trying to sidestep due diligence and the statutory requirements for the establishment of such a facility by prematurely focusing almost exclusively on a rural location. Of course, the real reason is pure politics … each of the aforementioned supporting supervisors are trying to duck answering to their own constituents. Nonetheless, if the re-entry facility is worth the $30 million payoff, then the supervisors ought to do their jobs. Enough of the self-aggrandizing platitudes. If the supervisors can’t do it right, then perhaps they ought not to do it at all.

    In terms of the AB 900 legislation that has set this controversy in motion, I think that there are some fundamental flaws. Re-education and preparation for re-entry back into society is something that is not likely going to be achieved in the final year of an inmate’s incarceration. This process should realistically commence on the day of assimilation into the prison population. And because the facility would be under the umbrella of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, there is really no guarantee that this designation as a re-entry facility will hold if there is a definitive future need for more prison expansions. All this being said, I can’t fault Supervisor Rexroad for trying to focus the dialogue back toward locating a reasonable site for the re-entry facility. On the other hand, if it were just me, I’d just throw in the cards and walk away.

  35. CountrySunshine

    Curious that those county supervisors most willing to approve the build out of a re-entry facility in the Zamora and Dunnigan and other rural locations in the county are amongst those who are compellingly against establishing the facility within their own districts. The county supervisors certainly took the bait on getting the $30 million in AB 900 funds from the state, but they are seemingly remiss in taking on the concurrent responsibility of selecting a suitable location for the facility. If the NIMBY (not in my back yard) syndrome is alive and well it is certainly exemplified by the conduct of all of the supervisors with exception of District 5 Supervisor, Duane Chamberlain. Those of us who normally find politics abhorrent, get validation of our perspectives by the shameless antics of the collective composition of the Board.

    Ironically, the intended beneficiaries of the proposed re-entry facility are those inmates scheduled for release back into the county. But most of those convicted felons that do come from Yolo County will predominately be from the metropolitan areas of the county such as Davis, West Sacramento, and Woodland. It is assumed that many of those same individuals will also have families that live in the general area of these same urban communities. In terms of the infrastructure necessary to support such a facility, there will need for an adequate capacity to support the essential utilities of water and sewage. Special needs and related support services for the inmates and their families will be an ongoing necessity. Transportation issues related to inmate visitors and re-entry facility employees is even another facet of the siting criteria for the establishment of the facility. There are other issues as well, but by now you should get the point. None of this infrastructure exists in most rural parts of the county. But Supervisors McGowan, Rexroad, Thomson and Yamada up until now would have you believe otherwise.

    Notwithstanding all the previously stated reasons for not building the re-entry facility in a rural part of the county is the very fact that the text of both AB 900 and the State of California Penal Code require, to the extent that is reasonable, that a re-entry facility be established in an urban setting. The Board of Supervisors has been basically trying to sidestep due diligence and the statutory requirements for the establishment of such a facility by prematurely focusing almost exclusively on a rural location. Of course, the real reason is pure politics … each of the aforementioned supporting supervisors are trying to duck answering to their own constituents. Nonetheless, if the re-entry facility is worth the $30 million payoff, then the supervisors ought to do their jobs. Enough of the self-aggrandizing platitudes. If the supervisors can’t do it right, then perhaps they ought not to do it at all.

    In terms of the AB 900 legislation that has set this controversy in motion, I think that there are some fundamental flaws. Re-education and preparation for re-entry back into society is something that is not likely going to be achieved in the final year of an inmate’s incarceration. This process should realistically commence on the day of assimilation into the prison population. And because the facility would be under the umbrella of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, there is really no guarantee that this designation as a re-entry facility will hold if there is a definitive future need for more prison expansions. All this being said, I can’t fault Supervisor Rexroad for trying to focus the dialogue back toward locating a reasonable site for the re-entry facility. On the other hand, if it were just me, I’d just throw in the cards and walk away.

  36. CountrySunshine

    Curious that those county supervisors most willing to approve the build out of a re-entry facility in the Zamora and Dunnigan and other rural locations in the county are amongst those who are compellingly against establishing the facility within their own districts. The county supervisors certainly took the bait on getting the $30 million in AB 900 funds from the state, but they are seemingly remiss in taking on the concurrent responsibility of selecting a suitable location for the facility. If the NIMBY (not in my back yard) syndrome is alive and well it is certainly exemplified by the conduct of all of the supervisors with exception of District 5 Supervisor, Duane Chamberlain. Those of us who normally find politics abhorrent, get validation of our perspectives by the shameless antics of the collective composition of the Board.

    Ironically, the intended beneficiaries of the proposed re-entry facility are those inmates scheduled for release back into the county. But most of those convicted felons that do come from Yolo County will predominately be from the metropolitan areas of the county such as Davis, West Sacramento, and Woodland. It is assumed that many of those same individuals will also have families that live in the general area of these same urban communities. In terms of the infrastructure necessary to support such a facility, there will need for an adequate capacity to support the essential utilities of water and sewage. Special needs and related support services for the inmates and their families will be an ongoing necessity. Transportation issues related to inmate visitors and re-entry facility employees is even another facet of the siting criteria for the establishment of the facility. There are other issues as well, but by now you should get the point. None of this infrastructure exists in most rural parts of the county. But Supervisors McGowan, Rexroad, Thomson and Yamada up until now would have you believe otherwise.

    Notwithstanding all the previously stated reasons for not building the re-entry facility in a rural part of the county is the very fact that the text of both AB 900 and the State of California Penal Code require, to the extent that is reasonable, that a re-entry facility be established in an urban setting. The Board of Supervisors has been basically trying to sidestep due diligence and the statutory requirements for the establishment of such a facility by prematurely focusing almost exclusively on a rural location. Of course, the real reason is pure politics … each of the aforementioned supporting supervisors are trying to duck answering to their own constituents. Nonetheless, if the re-entry facility is worth the $30 million payoff, then the supervisors ought to do their jobs. Enough of the self-aggrandizing platitudes. If the supervisors can’t do it right, then perhaps they ought not to do it at all.

    In terms of the AB 900 legislation that has set this controversy in motion, I think that there are some fundamental flaws. Re-education and preparation for re-entry back into society is something that is not likely going to be achieved in the final year of an inmate’s incarceration. This process should realistically commence on the day of assimilation into the prison population. And because the facility would be under the umbrella of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, there is really no guarantee that this designation as a re-entry facility will hold if there is a definitive future need for more prison expansions. All this being said, I can’t fault Supervisor Rexroad for trying to focus the dialogue back toward locating a reasonable site for the re-entry facility. On the other hand, if it were just me, I’d just throw in the cards and walk away.

  37. countrysunshine

    Here’s an update.

    Four of the five Yolo County Board of Supervisors can’t seem to be swayed from their collective obsession of placing the proposed re-entry prison facility in the rural western part of the county. What’s the going rate on political ethics? How about $30 million? At least that seems to be the buying price for McGowan, Rexroad, Thomson and Yamada.

    It has been learned that there’s THREE sites now being suggested for the Esparto and Madison area. Two seem to have definitive locations, but the third site has less detail.

    One site is along County Road 85 just north of Cache Creek at Capay (it’s in the general Esparto area) on Granite Construction property that was given over to the county. But, of course, there is no water/sewer in Capay, they only have wells and septic tanks

    John Deterding (a developer) has offered a portion of his 70 acres on Highway 16 at 86A in exchange for zoning changes to take his piece out of industrial zoning. Of the three spots in the Esparto area this is possibly the better spot. Close to the sewer ponds and there’s already housing planned in the area. What isn’t known is whether or not there is sufficient water available to handle the re-entry facility?

    The third spot is near Madison, but so far it isn’t exactly known where in Madison.

    So the next question is this: Where do most of the inmates that will be designated for release back into the county come from? Oh yes, now I recall … Davis, West Sacramento and Woodland! Nice going, supervisors. But, then again, who needs ethics anyway, especially when you plan on running for state office?

  38. countrysunshine

    Here’s an update.

    Four of the five Yolo County Board of Supervisors can’t seem to be swayed from their collective obsession of placing the proposed re-entry prison facility in the rural western part of the county. What’s the going rate on political ethics? How about $30 million? At least that seems to be the buying price for McGowan, Rexroad, Thomson and Yamada.

    It has been learned that there’s THREE sites now being suggested for the Esparto and Madison area. Two seem to have definitive locations, but the third site has less detail.

    One site is along County Road 85 just north of Cache Creek at Capay (it’s in the general Esparto area) on Granite Construction property that was given over to the county. But, of course, there is no water/sewer in Capay, they only have wells and septic tanks

    John Deterding (a developer) has offered a portion of his 70 acres on Highway 16 at 86A in exchange for zoning changes to take his piece out of industrial zoning. Of the three spots in the Esparto area this is possibly the better spot. Close to the sewer ponds and there’s already housing planned in the area. What isn’t known is whether or not there is sufficient water available to handle the re-entry facility?

    The third spot is near Madison, but so far it isn’t exactly known where in Madison.

    So the next question is this: Where do most of the inmates that will be designated for release back into the county come from? Oh yes, now I recall … Davis, West Sacramento and Woodland! Nice going, supervisors. But, then again, who needs ethics anyway, especially when you plan on running for state office?

  39. countrysunshine

    Here’s an update.

    Four of the five Yolo County Board of Supervisors can’t seem to be swayed from their collective obsession of placing the proposed re-entry prison facility in the rural western part of the county. What’s the going rate on political ethics? How about $30 million? At least that seems to be the buying price for McGowan, Rexroad, Thomson and Yamada.

    It has been learned that there’s THREE sites now being suggested for the Esparto and Madison area. Two seem to have definitive locations, but the third site has less detail.

    One site is along County Road 85 just north of Cache Creek at Capay (it’s in the general Esparto area) on Granite Construction property that was given over to the county. But, of course, there is no water/sewer in Capay, they only have wells and septic tanks

    John Deterding (a developer) has offered a portion of his 70 acres on Highway 16 at 86A in exchange for zoning changes to take his piece out of industrial zoning. Of the three spots in the Esparto area this is possibly the better spot. Close to the sewer ponds and there’s already housing planned in the area. What isn’t known is whether or not there is sufficient water available to handle the re-entry facility?

    The third spot is near Madison, but so far it isn’t exactly known where in Madison.

    So the next question is this: Where do most of the inmates that will be designated for release back into the county come from? Oh yes, now I recall … Davis, West Sacramento and Woodland! Nice going, supervisors. But, then again, who needs ethics anyway, especially when you plan on running for state office?

  40. countrysunshine

    Here’s an update.

    Four of the five Yolo County Board of Supervisors can’t seem to be swayed from their collective obsession of placing the proposed re-entry prison facility in the rural western part of the county. What’s the going rate on political ethics? How about $30 million? At least that seems to be the buying price for McGowan, Rexroad, Thomson and Yamada.

    It has been learned that there’s THREE sites now being suggested for the Esparto and Madison area. Two seem to have definitive locations, but the third site has less detail.

    One site is along County Road 85 just north of Cache Creek at Capay (it’s in the general Esparto area) on Granite Construction property that was given over to the county. But, of course, there is no water/sewer in Capay, they only have wells and septic tanks

    John Deterding (a developer) has offered a portion of his 70 acres on Highway 16 at 86A in exchange for zoning changes to take his piece out of industrial zoning. Of the three spots in the Esparto area this is possibly the better spot. Close to the sewer ponds and there’s already housing planned in the area. What isn’t known is whether or not there is sufficient water available to handle the re-entry facility?

    The third spot is near Madison, but so far it isn’t exactly known where in Madison.

    So the next question is this: Where do most of the inmates that will be designated for release back into the county come from? Oh yes, now I recall … Davis, West Sacramento and Woodland! Nice going, supervisors. But, then again, who needs ethics anyway, especially when you plan on running for state office?

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