AZ: Prescott Valley prison opponents launch website

Here's to Truth, Peace and Justice - may all prevail in the New Year.

AZ: Prescott Valley prison opponents launch website

By Ken Hedler, The Daily Courier
Friday, January 01, 2010

PRESCOTT VALLEY - Opponents of a private prison that might be located
in Prescott Valley have launched a website to fight it.

Former Town Councilman Tom Steele and Michael Hendricks, formerly of
Prescott Valley, recently launched www.noprisoninpv.com to mobilize
opposition. Steele said he established the domain name a day after the
Prescott Valley Economic Development Foundation issued a press release
Dec. 17 announcing civic leaders had met privately with
representatives of Corrections Corporation of America.

Steele, a Prescott Valley resident for six and a half years, said he
launched the site to educate the public, adding, "We are passing out
fliers in neighborhoods and businesses."

The website contains a link to a newspaper story, the phone numbers of
Town Council members, a YouTube video, other information and an e-mail
address for Steele.

Mayor Harvey Skoog commented Wednesday, "I have not seen it." However,
he acknowledged some constituents might have called him after they
logged onto the website.

"Right now, we are not debating the issue," Skoog said. "(Steele) is.
But he has been on the wrong side of many issues."

Town Manager Larry Tarkowski declined to comment on the website. He
said two weeks ago that the town government plans to commission a
telephone survey after CCA, based in Nashville, Tenn., conducts a
public meeting locally to discuss its plans.

CCA spokesman Steve Owen said he is unaware of the anti-prison website
and indicated his company is considering multiple sites for a prison
to house a maximum of 5,000 inmates, not just a proposed site off Fain
Road.

He added opposition to prisons often comes from a "vocal minority."

Meanwhile, Steele is using the website to urge people to attend the
first regularly scheduled meeting of the council in 2010, on Jan. 14.
He also filed a public records request at Town Clerk Diane Russell's
office to obtain e-mail documentation of contacts between the council
and CCA officials as well as other correspondence.

Steele said he met Hendricks through the Prescott Tea Party, which is
part of a nationwide movement that has spoken out against the federal
bailouts of auto manufacturers and banks, health care reform and
international regulations to curb global warming.

Hendricks, who now lives in Paulden but maintains two businesses in
Prescott Valley as well as having family here, said he has done
extensive research on private prisons.

"A lot of people that live in Prescott Valley are retired," he said.
"They came to Prescott Valley to get away from big-city life."

Hendricks said he is upset that Councilman Patty Lasker penned a Talk
of the Town commentary in the Daily Courier in which she cited the
benefits a private prison would bring, such as jobs. He added he
helped to get her elected to the council in 2009.

Lasker and Gary Marks, executive director of the economic development
foundation, were unavailable for comment.
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