http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967 Once again the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has selected the greater Tehachapi area for expansion of CCI. They plan to build a new unit to house 2200 more inmates that will require 830 new employees. That's 3000 added to the current 9000  inmates and employees which will only perpetuate the current 200% overcrowding rather than resolve it. All this comes packaged in a new 110 acre under roof facility. Prison families moving into the area, further contamination to our aquifers, a never ending stream of visitors to inmates, traffic congestion and road deterioration, additional housing for employees, air pollution, crime, overcrowding of schools, burdens to our hospital and law enforcement and public safety all come to us in the form of prison expansion. We have an opportunity to stand up and say "NO" and join with CVPA at the City Council meeting on Monday, May 5th. where representatives of the CCI will be making a presentation. We need to let them know that expansion should occur in closer proximity to the source of criminal activities - NOT in Tehachapi. Please plan to attend this critical meeting. If several hundred people plan to do so, the meeting will be moved from the Veterans Hall to the High School Cafeteria. Encourage your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers and call 822-1887 or 822-3478 to let them know you will attend. I know I will! Jim Richards Once again the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has selected the greater Tehachapi area for expansion of CCI. They plan to build a new unit to house 2200 more inmates that will require 830 new employees. That's 3000 added to the current 9000  inmates and employees which will only perpetuate the current 200% overcrowding rather than resolve it. All this comes packaged in a new 110 acre under roof facility. Prison families moving into the area, further contamination to our aquifers, a never ending stream of visitors to inmates, traffic congestion and road deterioration, additional housing for employees, air pollution, crime, overcrowding of schools, burdens to our hospital and law enforcement and public safety all come to us in the form of prison expansion. We have an opportunity to stand up and say "NO" and join with CVPA at the City Council meeting on Monday, May 5th. where representatives of the CCI will be making a presentation. We need to let them know that expansion should occur in closer proximity to the source of criminal activities - NOT in Tehachapi. Please plan to attend this critical meeting. If several hundred people plan to do so, the meeting will be moved from the Veterans Hall to the High School Cafeteria. Encourage your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers and call 822-1887 or 822-3478 to let them know you will attend. I know I will! Jim Richards en-us What time Monday? http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233240 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233240 What time Monday? City Council meetings are always held (unless a Holiday) on the first and third Mondays of the month at 6pm at the Veterans Hall. Hope everyone can make it. We ALL have a stake in the outcome. Jim Richards     http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233261 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233261 City Council meetings are always held (unless a Holiday) on the first and third Mondays of the month at 6pm at the Veterans Hall. Hope everyone can make it. We ALL have a stake in the outcome. Jim Richards     Jim - I ask you to solve the "over crowding" without early release, with out the death penalty, and with out expanding the prisons throughout the state (which includes Tehachapi).  The liberals in our society do not want the criminals put to death, they don't want them let out of prison and now they do not want to expand the prisons.  So enough griping and complaining, what is your solution?  Know that the expansion WILL HAPPEN, so work with the state on a plan that can be beneficial to all.  Don't just whine, actually propose solutions! http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233287 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233287 Jim - I ask you to solve the "over crowding" without early release, with out the death penalty, and with out expanding the prisons throughout the state (which includes Tehachapi).  The liberals in our society do not want the criminals put to death, they don't want them let out of prison and now they do not want to expand the prisons.  So enough griping and complaining, what is your solution?  Know that the expansion WILL HAPPEN, so work with the state on a plan that can be beneficial to all.  Don't just whine, actually propose solutions! Gimme a break, Red.  You've just told me that the state is going to do whatever they want, so what "solution" are they wating for me to propose?  And solution for what?  The MBTE contamination they've already caused?  The fact that they've got  7000 people hooked up to a septic tank?  That the thing sits out on the end of a dead-end, two-lane road?  I don't think they need my advice on any of those, but how about this for a solution?  Build this thing where you HAVEN'T already contaminated the goundwater, and where it ISN'T on the dead-end of a two-lane road.  How about building it where the family members of the prisoners ALREADY live? But enough of my ideas.  Since you apparently think there ARE some problems, how about listing what you think they are. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233289 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233289 Gimme a break, Red.  You've just told me that the state is going to do whatever they want, so what "solution" are they wating for me to propose?  And solution for what?  The MBTE contamination they've already caused?  The fact that they've got  7000 people hooked up to a septic tank?  That the thing sits out on the end of a dead-end, two-lane road?  I don't think they need my advice on any of those, but how about this for a solution?  Build this thing where you HAVEN'T already contaminated the goundwater, and where it ISN'T on the dead-end of a two-lane road.  How about building it where the family members of the prisoners ALREADY live? But enough of my ideas.  Since you apparently think there ARE some problems, how about listing what you think they are. Where exactly do they plan to PUT this expansion? Deep inside? There's only so much room before they start encroaching on the outer part of the current prison walls. The extra traffic is a big concern the guards and visitors already fly down that part of the road as it is. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233291 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233291 Where exactly do they plan to PUT this expansion? Deep inside? There's only so much room before they start encroaching on the outer part of the current prison walls. The extra traffic is a big concern the guards and visitors already fly down that part of the road as it is. Why don't they just take all these funds and start a new prison out in all that desert wasteland along the 58 past Mojave?  I mean the land would be cheap, there are vast areas where the only things around are quarries and no residential areas to burden infrastructure.  Sure the initial investment would be comparatively large but then they wouldn't have all these issues when they want/need to expand which I would venture to guess in the long run probably costs them more money.  I seriously don't understand why they need to stick a prison in the middle of a small residential area, and then start expanding it when there are much more remote areas better suited that are still in easy commute distance for the employees. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233386 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233386 Why don't they just take all these funds and start a new prison out in all that desert wasteland along the 58 past Mojave?  I mean the land would be cheap, there are vast areas where the only things around are quarries and no residential areas to burden infrastructure.  Sure the initial investment would be comparatively large but then they wouldn't have all these issues when they want/need to expand which I would venture to guess in the long run probably costs them more money.  I seriously don't understand why they need to stick a prison in the middle of a small residential area, and then start expanding it when there are much more remote areas better suited that are still in easy commute distance for the employees.  Where are our so-called LEADERS on this issue? Has anyone heard so much as a peep from any of them, City, County, State, Federal? They are our "Representatives" but it seems the only time we hear from them is when it's re-election time. The question we need them to answer is: Of all the 33 existing California State Prisons...How and WHY was Tehachapi chosen? Is it because we have a better quality of air for the inmates and their families to breathe? Will anyone else here join me in Forwarding this to ALL of them? Jim Richards http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233475 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233475  Where are our so-called LEADERS on this issue? Has anyone heard so much as a peep from any of them, City, County, State, Federal? They are our "Representatives" but it seems the only time we hear from them is when it's re-election time. The question we need them to answer is: Of all the 33 existing California State Prisons...How and WHY was Tehachapi chosen? Is it because we have a better quality of air for the inmates and their families to breathe? Will anyone else here join me in Forwarding this to ALL of them? Jim Richards If the Prison expands then every Guard should be required to car pool to work.  202 is a constant roar of traffic now and this will only make it worse.  I live off of 202 and when the prison is on shift change we see the most ridiculous driving.  I am going to call the CHP and ask if they will post up 202 on all 3 shift change times, enough is enough YOU are NOT above the law.  As far as the ground water goes how about all of the residents of Cummings Valley, Bear Valley, Stallion, Brite Valley, and Fairview Ranches, get together and bring a class action law suite against the state that will tie them up for years.  NO MORE PRISONERS in my backyard this is an industry that I do not support.  http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233569 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233569 If the Prison expands then every Guard should be required to car pool to work.  202 is a constant roar of traffic now and this will only make it worse.  I live off of 202 and when the prison is on shift change we see the most ridiculous driving.  I am going to call the CHP and ask if they will post up 202 on all 3 shift change times, enough is enough YOU are NOT above the law.  As far as the ground water goes how about all of the residents of Cummings Valley, Bear Valley, Stallion, Brite Valley, and Fairview Ranches, get together and bring a class action law suite against the state that will tie them up for years.  NO MORE PRISONERS in my backyard this is an industry that I do not support.  sol2ride you chose to live where you do, now you get to deal with everything that comes with it. Jimr you're just a little paranoid, Tehachapi has a fine quality of living, quit trying to scare everyone into going with your personal agenda for Tehachapi. CCI provides many quality, well paying jobs for people who would otherwise be stuck out in the rain because of lack of education. "Of all the 33 existing California State Prisons...How and WHY was Tehachapi chosen? Is it because we have a better quality of air for the inmates and their families to breathe?" Its absurd to suggest that Tehachapi was chosen because of better air quality for inmates, you should know that it was likely the most cost effective option, there's a lot of free space that the state already owns out there. You sound like one of those people who like to complain about a problem, but don't want to make the sacrifices necessary to solve it. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233638 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233638 sol2ride you chose to live where you do, now you get to deal with everything that comes with it. Jimr you're just a little paranoid, Tehachapi has a fine quality of living, quit trying to scare everyone into going with your personal agenda for Tehachapi. CCI provides many quality, well paying jobs for people who would otherwise be stuck out in the rain because of lack of education. "Of all the 33 existing California State Prisons...How and WHY was Tehachapi chosen? Is it because we have a better quality of air for the inmates and their families to breathe?" Its absurd to suggest that Tehachapi was chosen because of better air quality for inmates, you should know that it was likely the most cost effective option, there's a lot of free space that the state already owns out there. You sound like one of those people who like to complain about a problem, but don't want to make the sacrifices necessary to solve it. Rm6  I chose to live where I live with the current condition, NOT with additional inmates and guards.  I also did not know that Guards think they are above the law and drive as if they are.  I do deal with it, by pulling out right in front of you onto 202 and then driving 55.  When more of you start getting tickets you can thank me.   The fact is that our state suffers and teachers are being laid off, yet due your Union who only care about your Union, prisons are built at the expense of us all.  The best thing that could happen is for the California State Prison Union to be busted and put a stop to more prisons and unwarranted high wages.  Lets build schools not prisons.   Our children will not get text books or teachers but those inmates sure will.  Am I the only one who sees a problem with this? http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233692 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233692 Rm6  I chose to live where I live with the current condition, NOT with additional inmates and guards.  I also did not know that Guards think they are above the law and drive as if they are.  I do deal with it, by pulling out right in front of you onto 202 and then driving 55.  When more of you start getting tickets you can thank me.   The fact is that our state suffers and teachers are being laid off, yet due your Union who only care about your Union, prisons are built at the expense of us all.  The best thing that could happen is for the California State Prison Union to be busted and put a stop to more prisons and unwarranted high wages.  Lets build schools not prisons.   Our children will not get text books or teachers but those inmates sure will.  Am I the only one who sees a problem with this? I think we need to build more prisons.  With a current 40% high school drop out rate that's where a lot of these kids are going to end up. Sad isn't it? http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233696 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233696 I think we need to build more prisons.  With a current 40% high school drop out rate that's where a lot of these kids are going to end up. Sad isn't it? ASM8 ,well as RM6 said "the uneducated can work at the prison".  Yes our state would rather educate them in prison then in grade school.  Very Sad http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233697 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233697 ASM8 ,well as RM6 said "the uneducated can work at the prison".  Yes our state would rather educate them in prison then in grade school.  Very Sad you don't need a high school diploma to be a prison guard.............A GED will do http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233709 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233709 you don't need a high school diploma to be a prison guard.............A GED will do sol2ride, it's not that the people who work at the prison think they are above the law, where did you get that? everyone drives fast on 202, traffic moves at 60-70 mph even between shift changes. Do you honestly think that the worker's unions are responsible for the building of more prisons? That's ridiculous it's the CDCR that decides that sort of stuff, btw I don't work at CCI so don't say "your Union." There is no such thing as the "California State Prison Union," I have no idea where you got that? Perhaps out of your ass...unwarranted high wages? Yea these people have a very dangerous job, they deal with the people that all the rest of society doesn't want to, how can you say unwarranted??? There's sh*tty teachers at the high school that just spew bs out of their mouths all day that get paid the same, that's what I'd call unwarranted. Just throwing money at a problem isn't going to fix it, we need competent teachers. I did not say "the uneducated can work at the prison," if you have to twist what I say in order to refute it then you're pathetic. I said that CCI provides opportunities for well paying jobs to those who aren't lucky enough to have had the money to go to college, it's not like you can just walk in and get a job. "Yes our state would rather educate them in prison then in grade school" you make so many illogical generalizations, I'm surprised that anyone takes you seriously. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233736 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233736 sol2ride, it's not that the people who work at the prison think they are above the law, where did you get that? everyone drives fast on 202, traffic moves at 60-70 mph even between shift changes. Do you honestly think that the worker's unions are responsible for the building of more prisons? That's ridiculous it's the CDCR that decides that sort of stuff, btw I don't work at CCI so don't say "your Union." There is no such thing as the "California State Prison Union," I have no idea where you got that? Perhaps out of your ass...unwarranted high wages? Yea these people have a very dangerous job, they deal with the people that all the rest of society doesn't want to, how can you say unwarranted??? There's sh*tty teachers at the high school that just spew bs out of their mouths all day that get paid the same, that's what I'd call unwarranted. Just throwing money at a problem isn't going to fix it, we need competent teachers. I did not say "the uneducated can work at the prison," if you have to twist what I say in order to refute it then you're pathetic. I said that CCI provides opportunities for well paying jobs to those who aren't lucky enough to have had the money to go to college, it's not like you can just walk in and get a job. "Yes our state would rather educate them in prison then in grade school" you make so many illogical generalizations, I'm surprised that anyone takes you seriously. A few other jobs that only require a high school diploma or GED: CHP, KCFD, KCSO, Los Angeles County Fire Department, BFD, BPD, Cal Fire, just about every entry position in federal, state, county, and city government.  They all do a background check for pre-employment. Heck you do not need to have a high school diploma or GED to run for President of The United Sates, Senator, Congress.  As for 202, take a look at all the new homes built in Stallion Springs, Bear Valley, and Cummings Valley in the last five plus years.  It is not just prison employees, but a combination of both.  Cannot just blame CCI on the traffic woes of 202 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233766 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233766 A few other jobs that only require a high school diploma or GED: CHP, KCFD, KCSO, Los Angeles County Fire Department, BFD, BPD, Cal Fire, just about every entry position in federal, state, county, and city government.  They all do a background check for pre-employment. Heck you do not need to have a high school diploma or GED to run for President of The United Sates, Senator, Congress.  As for 202, take a look at all the new homes built in Stallion Springs, Bear Valley, and Cummings Valley in the last five plus years.  It is not just prison employees, but a combination of both.  Cannot just blame CCI on the traffic woes of 202  sol2ride when dealing with rm6 you have to take account that hes just a baby fresh off his mama's tit..................To say that the guards are not represented by a union or association is asinine. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233787 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233787  sol2ride when dealing with rm6 you have to take account that hes just a baby fresh off his mama's tit..................To say that the guards are not represented by a union or association is asinine. Why does everyone always focus on the negative and never the positive. The positive impact of the expansion could include more jobs, increased revenues from visitors (hotels/restaurants etc). Not every inmate in the prison system comes from a bad env't. To categorize all famalies of an inmate I think is wrong. I can guarantee alot of those boys sitting in prison come from good famalies and good backgrounds, they aren't all gang banging thugs. Why would you expect an increase in crime from a prison expansion? That I don't understand. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233853 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233853 Why does everyone always focus on the negative and never the positive. The positive impact of the expansion could include more jobs, increased revenues from visitors (hotels/restaurants etc). Not every inmate in the prison system comes from a bad env't. To categorize all famalies of an inmate I think is wrong. I can guarantee alot of those boys sitting in prison come from good famalies and good backgrounds, they aren't all gang banging thugs. Why would you expect an increase in crime from a prison expansion? That I don't understand. Smokey - you imply that family members (I assume those are mostly wive's/girlfriends and their children) will come up here with their prisoners.  How can that be good for us? http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233887 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233887 Smokey - you imply that family members (I assume those are mostly wive's/girlfriends and their children) will come up here with their prisoners.  How can that be good for us? hey gube are you saying that I said that the employees there aren't represented by a union? No, I just said that the union that sol2ride mentioned doesn't exist, they're represented by the CCPOA and CCSO, not the "California State Prison Union." http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233898 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233898 hey gube are you saying that I said that the employees there aren't represented by a union? No, I just said that the union that sol2ride mentioned doesn't exist, they're represented by the CCPOA and CCSO, not the "California State Prison Union." posted by robertjohnstonjohnston on May 5, 2008 at 05:57 AM A few other jobs that only require a high school diploma or GED: CHP, KCFD, KCSO, Los Angeles County Fire Department, BFD, BPD, Cal Fire, just about every entry position in federal, state, county, and city government.  They all do a background check for pre-employment. Heck you do not need to have a high school diploma or GED to run for President of The United Sates, Senator, Congress.   FYI - Your city council does not require any background check of local elected officials, but city employees are thoroughly screened by an outside agency. We know most everything about Ed and Debby and Phil because they've been living here forever. Many of us have gone to school or worked elbow to elbow (blue collar to collar?) with some of them. But I for one am really curious where exactly Stan Beckham (and Jimr) worked for the past 30 years because he clearly hasn't gained all his big business experience and muckety-muck qualifications in this small town. His online bio describes quite a successful bigwhig in varous fields, including international banking, construction, real estate, and even "logistics and security for the government." Whose government? What companies ? Perhaps if our council meeting agendas and budgets were written in another language... But then I guess that wouldn't really fit with his and jimr's anti-illlegal immigrant/racists stance. But I digress...I think our elected officials should be subject to background checks and publication of their credentials. These kinds of issues seem to keep dividing the community and I don't think we should trust our officials to make these decisions based on handshakes(-jobs?) and promises.    http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233920 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233920 posted by robertjohnstonjohnston on May 5, 2008 at 05:57 AM A few other jobs that only require a high school diploma or GED: CHP, KCFD, KCSO, Los Angeles County Fire Department, BFD, BPD, Cal Fire, just about every entry position in federal, state, county, and city government.  They all do a background check for pre-employment. Heck you do not need to have a high school diploma or GED to run for President of The United Sates, Senator, Congress.   FYI - Your city council does not require any background check of local elected officials, but city employees are thoroughly screened by an outside agency. We know most everything about Ed and Debby and Phil because they've been living here forever. Many of us have gone to school or worked elbow to elbow (blue collar to collar?) with some of them. But I for one am really curious where exactly Stan Beckham (and Jimr) worked for the past 30 years because he clearly hasn't gained all his big business experience and muckety-muck qualifications in this small town. His online bio describes quite a successful bigwhig in varous fields, including international banking, construction, real estate, and even "logistics and security for the government." Whose government? What companies ? Perhaps if our council meeting agendas and budgets were written in another language... But then I guess that wouldn't really fit with his and jimr's anti-illlegal immigrant/racists stance. But I digress...I think our elected officials should be subject to background checks and publication of their credentials. These kinds of issues seem to keep dividing the community and I don't think we should trust our officials to make these decisions based on handshakes(-jobs?) and promises.    Hey Curly if you want to know more about jimr he also blogs as calvintehachapi. Stan blogs as the oneandonlyanonymous as well as many other names. Stan has done nothing but make a fool out of himself and local politics. He has changed nothing in our City. jimr will just be another Stan, he has no backbone he will do what the vocal minority tells him. Remember the flip jimr did on the location of city hall?? As for the prison expansion, why not charge the prison mitigation fees like we charge the developers? We can also make them expand Hwy 202 to 4 lanes. This will not only help the prison but all of us. jimr is paranoid most prison families don't move to be near the prisoner. CDC moves the inmates to much for that to happen!  CDC can make payments on their mitigation fees as well. Stan flipped on that subject and now thinks that was a good idea, after calling the other council members names for doing the same thing he just voted for. I know for a fact that prison guards know they are not above the law, most of them know they have no hope of getting out of citation if pulled over by the CHP. Vote to recall Stan and please don't replace him with jimr.....  Change is a good thing, but the type of change brought to us by Stan was evil. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233940 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233940 Hey Curly if you want to know more about jimr he also blogs as calvintehachapi. Stan blogs as the oneandonlyanonymous as well as many other names. Stan has done nothing but make a fool out of himself and local politics. He has changed nothing in our City. jimr will just be another Stan, he has no backbone he will do what the vocal minority tells him. Remember the flip jimr did on the location of city hall?? As for the prison expansion, why not charge the prison mitigation fees like we charge the developers? We can also make them expand Hwy 202 to 4 lanes. This will not only help the prison but all of us. jimr is paranoid most prison families don't move to be near the prisoner. CDC moves the inmates to much for that to happen!  CDC can make payments on their mitigation fees as well. Stan flipped on that subject and now thinks that was a good idea, after calling the other council members names for doing the same thing he just voted for. I know for a fact that prison guards know they are not above the law, most of them know they have no hope of getting out of citation if pulled over by the CHP. Vote to recall Stan and please don't replace him with jimr.....  Change is a good thing, but the type of change brought to us by Stan was evil. At the risk of sounding like a cheerleader (which I am moist coitanly not!), I'd like to respond to Jimr's question:  Where are our so-called LEADERS on this issue? Has anyone heard so much as a peep from any of them, City, County, State, Federal? They are our "Representatives" but it seems the only time we hear from them is when it's re-election time. I read about Mayor Hand's comments in the News several weeks ago objecting to the expansion at CCI. I also heard the council form a committee at the last meeting to work with the same people who are giving the same presentation again tonight at the council. So to answer your question, I'd guess the Mayor was at the original CCI expansion meeting before you realized this was another opportunity to cast aspersions and offer zero suggestions for how to fix it. I'd guess the committee (aka council memebers) was probably busy sending out an invitation to bring this presentation to even more folks than saw it the first go-round.  But I'm just guessing. Nyuk, nyuk!    Just FYI - I also heard a woman speak a couple meetings ago about how the most traffic on 202 was related to homeowners and school kids, not CCI buses or shift changes. I don't know where or how she got her info, but I hope someone looks into it. With or without CCI expansion, that road is far too dangerous.    http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233943 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233943 At the risk of sounding like a cheerleader (which I am moist coitanly not!), I'd like to respond to Jimr's question:  Where are our so-called LEADERS on this issue? Has anyone heard so much as a peep from any of them, City, County, State, Federal? They are our "Representatives" but it seems the only time we hear from them is when it's re-election time. I read about Mayor Hand's comments in the News several weeks ago objecting to the expansion at CCI. I also heard the council form a committee at the last meeting to work with the same people who are giving the same presentation again tonight at the council. So to answer your question, I'd guess the Mayor was at the original CCI expansion meeting before you realized this was another opportunity to cast aspersions and offer zero suggestions for how to fix it. I'd guess the committee (aka council memebers) was probably busy sending out an invitation to bring this presentation to even more folks than saw it the first go-round.  But I'm just guessing. Nyuk, nyuk!    Just FYI - I also heard a woman speak a couple meetings ago about how the most traffic on 202 was related to homeowners and school kids, not CCI buses or shift changes. I don't know where or how she got her info, but I hope someone looks into it. With or without CCI expansion, that road is far too dangerous.    Give jimr a brake Curly!!!  We have not heard from our Federal Leaders.  Hello Bush what say you???? http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233944 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233944 Give jimr a brake Curly!!!  We have not heard from our Federal Leaders.  Hello Bush what say you???? I have a couple of questions to ask about this topic...First question: Why does the city of Tehachapi any say so if the prison expands, for it would not be in the city limits but county? Why would the city of Tehachapi be able to charge mitigations fee's if it is not located in the city? Sorry if I sound a little clueless on this but this would help clarify things and then I could decide if I agree with it or not.   http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233965 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233965 I have a couple of questions to ask about this topic...First question: Why does the city of Tehachapi any say so if the prison expands, for it would not be in the city limits but county? Why would the city of Tehachapi be able to charge mitigations fee's if it is not located in the city? Sorry if I sound a little clueless on this but this would help clarify things and then I could decide if I agree with it or not.   Eek -  The prison is not in the county.  A special assembly bill was passed in the late 90's which made the prison grounds a city-island.  CCI is within City limits, and the population of the prison is considered as Tehachapi residents for the purposes of determining state funding for projects which are determined on a per-capita basis. Dreamkiller -  A city can't charge mitigation fees to the State.  The State exempts itself from local controls, just like the Federal Government exempts itself from state controls.  The legal principle is that the  "superior" body can't be jerked around by the "inferior" body.  And we can't MAKE the state do anything, especially widen 202.  That particular mitigation was promised by the expansion of the mid-80's and left undelivered.  Since that widening would add about $50M to the cost, I'm sure it will be left undone this time too.   http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233972 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233972 Eek -  The prison is not in the county.  A special assembly bill was passed in the late 90's which made the prison grounds a city-island.  CCI is within City limits, and the population of the prison is considered as Tehachapi residents for the purposes of determining state funding for projects which are determined on a per-capita basis. Dreamkiller -  A city can't charge mitigation fees to the State.  The State exempts itself from local controls, just like the Federal Government exempts itself from state controls.  The legal principle is that the  "superior" body can't be jerked around by the "inferior" body.  And we can't MAKE the state do anything, especially widen 202.  That particular mitigation was promised by the expansion of the mid-80's and left undelivered.  Since that widening would add about $50M to the cost, I'm sure it will be left undone this time too.   Thanks for the information ProgressoDasani, makes a lot more sense to me now.. I am not sure where I fall on this topic. I can see both the good and the bad side of it.   http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233983 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_233983 Thanks for the information ProgressoDasani, makes a lot more sense to me now.. I am not sure where I fall on this topic. I can see both the good and the bad side of it.   RM6, i really dont care what the prison union calls itself the fact is that one exists.  My argument is very simple, NO PRISON EXPANSION IN TEHACHAPI, and I dont really care about justifications negative or positives.  Why doesn't LA county build a prison? it seems that we in rural California have to deal with prisons housing inmates who commited crimes in other large cities.  Does anyone know where the proposed site is for the expansion? http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_234481 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/25967/#c_234481 RM6, i really dont care what the prison union calls itself the fact is that one exists.  My argument is very simple, NO PRISON EXPANSION IN TEHACHAPI, and I dont really care about justifications negative or positives.  Why doesn't LA county build a prison? it seems that we in rural California have to deal with prisons housing inmates who commited crimes in other large cities.  Does anyone know where the proposed site is for the expansion?