Goodyear Opposes Prison Expansion.

from the city of Goodyear's website, following the City Council's unanimous rejection of a private prison proposal from GEO Group...

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City Opposes Prison Expansion in Goodyear

Many citizens have contacted us recently voicing opposition to the proposed expansion of Perryville Prison by as many a 5,000 male inmates over and above its current 3,467 female inmate population. As a result of our citizens’ concerns, the Goodyear City Council voted 6-0 on August 22nd to oppose the Department of Correction’s expanding its facility in Goodyear. The city and its residents are entitled to make their concerns known and perhaps influence the final outcome.

Key reasons why the City Council voted unanimously to oppose the prison expansion in the middle of our growing community are our serious concerns over possible negative economic development impacts of such a large prison expansion:

1. Real property values in the surrounding areas will plummet.
   
   • Among those impacted will be the high-end resort-style master planned Robson community of Pebble Creek, as well as property that is currently available for development.
     
   • The interchange at I-10 and Loop 303 will be one of the busiest freeway interchanges in the state and all property in the area will be primed for high quality development
     
   • Palm Valley 303, a 1,600-acre world class business park, is strategically located just north of the interchange and is already attracting quality companies such as Sub-Zero.
     
   • Businesses are looking for visible employment corridors like Loop 303 at I-10 that promote:
     
   • high quality corporate image
     
   • desirable lifestyle
     
   • stable workforce
   
   
2. Companies considering moving to the high-end Palm Valley 303 complex will have to travel north from I-10, past an even larger, more imposing prison complex.
   
3. The city's image will deteriorate and strong companies will take their business elsewhere and that will mean a loss of jobs for the residents of Goodyear.

We need to make our voices heard. Therefore, I strongly encourage you to make your feelings about this prison expansion known before September 16th by contacting the Department of Corrections to share your objections or to voice your support. You must note on your correspondence that this is in “opposition to or support for the 5,000-bed expansion to Perryville Prison in Goodyear.” E-mail or mail to: ADC Procurement, 1645 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85007.