During this time of record unemployment, hours being cut, and tax money pushed to the limit NO MORE TAXES. Retired people will get ZERO raise. Medicare will go up. Maybe we all should sell our houses and go on the dole. There are solutions that are reasonable. Those in jail for non-violent crimes should be released under a program where they wear a monitoring bracelet. They will be required to pay for the service and the taxpayer will not be paying for their room and board. I think the city should look at Sheriff Clark from Arizona. He cut back meals etc and this is what needs to be done here. If those incarcerated don’t like it tell then DON’T COME BACK. Baloney and bread for Lunch. TV is Disney and Weather Channel only. That meets the federal guidelines. No radios blaring they work in his jail. No More Taxes is the answer. Live within our means!
OldOne
: 11/6/2009
I agree with oldone, no more monies spent to update the environment for those incarcerated. Enough is ENOUGH!
Common Sense
: 11/6/2009
Kudos for Old One! Why not put the non violent criminals to work for the road crew here in Qcy. Oh I'm sorry. That's illegal. After all, we wouldn't want somebody to do something that is illegal - considering they have more benefits than most of us do!
Mad as Heck but supports OldOne
: 11/6/2009
I need to save money for the other higher taxes I'll have to pay in the next years. I can't afford the taxes required now-will have to cut back on use of city restaurants, museums, gasoline, supporting local students, Christmas shopping, health services, etc.-anything possible.
: 11/6/2009
NO MORE TAXES. Make the sleep in tents or in the open... like our US Military does.
: 11/6/2009
I have to ask. Is there something wrong with our current jail???? What kind of imporvements are they talking about? Is it somehow unsafe for the guards to work in? Is it unsafe for the community? Are there risks for violent people to break out? If it is unsafe in those aspects then yes I would support it. But if it is just to make it better for the inmates or to make it nicer then i would say no!
A mom
: 11/6/2009
Old one... the only problem I would have with the monitoring bracelet is they still have some freedoms that they shouldn't have if they have commited a crime or in contempt of the court. I do belive though they should have to work for their food and water. I know they do have to pay jail fees though but that is not 100% of the cost.
a mom
: 11/6/2009
Well, we can not offend the offenders by not building them a new place to stay, now can we. Stick it in your ear.
: 11/6/2009
When I was in college my roommate was from the middle east where they cut off your hand for most crimes. He said he knew of no one missing both hands. Sound cruel well then, let me say this......dead people don't commit crimes so I give you the choice. Joe Arpaio in Arizona has it right and our judges are wussies.
: 11/6/2009
a mom, Yes they do have some freedom but they are monitored and if they break the rules they get full sentencing. They are allowed to work to support the family they may have. This may sound like freedom but it is hard to explain why you have to be home weekends and can not leave the yard. This program is for non-violent crimes. It keeps the family together and off welfare. The benifits to the taxpayer makes it a good option. I know we all might think, well they are home but we forget they are confined and it is embarasing wearing the bracelet. It does allow more freedom yes and it gives the person a reason to straigten up.
OldOne
: 11/6/2009
The Biggest form of NO! All this city is wanting to do is SPEND SPEND SPEND!!! WHEN do you ever get a clue Quincy that the time was months ago STOP THE SPENDING!!!????!!!!
: 11/6/2009
Our local government is truly the enemy of the people!! Send them to Arizona to visit Sheriff Joe Arapaio. They let them sleep in tents (year around). Like he said - this isn't the Holiday Inn, if you don't like it - don't come back. Geezer Charlie
: 11/6/2009
I agree 100% with Geezer. Those jailbirds have it better than a lot of decent hardworking people. The politicians should resign and get real jobs. Bobby the Bedwetter
: 11/6/2009
Stop the spending!! To many people out of work in this area to even be talking about more taxes. Four more lost their jobs today at the airport. When will all this stop. Enough is Enough.
Fed Up with politicians
: 11/6/2009
I would favor spending the necessary funds to bring the exiting jail facilities up to MINIMUM standards. Jail employees should not have to work in unsafe conditions, but any spending above that would be a total waste of taxpayer dollars. It would make no sense to construct a new facility some distance from the courthouse because of the danger and expense to the public of transporting prisoners to hearings and trials.
: 11/6/2009
I wholeheartedly agree with OldOne and also support the comment made regarding Sheriff Joe Arapaio from Arizona! From what I read in a recent Quincy Herald Whig article, they want this improvement to the county jail for wheelchair access, but of course they have no money. The American people are broke and suffering!! Higher taxes on the way with the possible passage of legislation of cap and trade, the looming threat of our healthcare freedoms on the horizon, and 10% unemployment. Quincy cannot afford this and must learn to live within its means.
: 11/7/2009
I don't think so!
: 11/7/2009
More Government, just what we need?
: 11/7/2009
Maybe they should use the fine money they are raping the people for to build this jail instead of using it to increase there salaries!
ME!
: 11/7/2009
TAXES - TAXES - TAXES Where is it all going to end. Library, John Wood, Adams Co. Health Dept. City and County officials have been going nuts for years now. Its time they started trying to decrease taxes. I would like to have a little money left for myself at the end of the month.
: 11/7/2009
What kind of instructions and improvements are we talking about? If it's just something to make the building look prettier then I would say no. People are in jail for a reason, they aren't there to be comfortable or have a nice pretty jailhouse!
just me
: 11/8/2009
On the Adams County web page, there is a new option. Open warrants to be served on people who did not come back!!! Take some of the 77 police men and women, to whom we pay a hefty salary, and give them a few names on the list to go out and arrest them. There may be a union problem as some of them may have union approved job descriptions that prevent them from doing foot work. There are 24 pages of names of people waiting to be stopped for traffic law infractions. Also, there are over 300 names of people on the Felony Warrant pages. Many have been on the list for years! Why could they not build on the parking area in the back of the court house. traffic listed as concern, but what do they do in really big cities when they have to move equipment and construction vehicles in very narrow streets? Do we have a right not to be inconvenienced? It could have connection to the current jail and the security of the system back and forth to the court rooms they now have in place. It would not require transportation back and forth from jail to court room, and provide private, secure underground parking for the police cars as they bring people into the jail after an arrest. We are already transporting people from the police department to the jail now. I still can not get over $50,000 for a study on the need for a new jail. They could have bought a lot of tents for $50,000. Jail food is slick meat and kool aid while staff get the steak meals. No wonder they are so out of shape. Maybe in the new jail they could put in a fitness room to help them get in shape or retire them early.
Wise guy
: 11/8/2009
I often wonder if the electted official read these blogs and polls. Does the sheriff read this one? they I feel can get a feeling what the taxpayers want from them. No New or additional taxes. When a city can lay off city workers yet still spend on studies for a new project maybe they layed the wrong people off to save money! The $50,000 could have been spent of fixing the old jail up.
OldOne
: 11/8/2009
What's happening in Quincy is happening all across America -- corporations picking Americans' pockets clean. Bond debt. Whether to build jails, libraries or whatever else, bond debt serves 2 purposes: (1) making certain rich people richer and (2) making working Americans poorer. If left unchecked by voters, they will pick your pockets clean in Quincy until the city has so much bond debt it can no longer support any more referendums - only then will they move on to greener pastures. That is, unless YOU put a stop to their theft of your hard earned savings. Don't count on elected officials to protect your interests.
: 11/8/2009
The Library does not need to be included on the list of crazy taxers. For more than 30 years, the Library's portion of property taxes has been steadily decreasing, yet the community has not seen this because the staff works their butts off making do for the public. If it weren't for donations, grants, and major staff cutbacks you wouldn't have the FREE books, programs, computers, and information that more than half of the population takes advantage of every day.
Proud library user
: 11/8/2009
Guess what we ate last night. Mac & Cheese and Baloney. We don't have cable television or cell phones or any of the toys and 5 people share the internet on an old slow computer and dial up. We are blessed by God in so many ways, but I feel that government has become the devil. I had an occasion to do ministry in a prison and was amazed at how these prisoners are treated better than my own children. I can only cry for all of us and pray.
s. k.
: 11/8/2009
I've heard that there are real safety concerns with the old jail, and I wish we could afford a nice, safer one.....but we can't. Maybe we could if we cut back on less critical needs...like remodeling the library so people can better check out romance novels and DVDs.
: 11/8/2009
I Agree with Proud library user . The Library offers free books and internet to all of us. Want to save money and fix an appliance? The library has the books to do that. Just in the home repair knowlege you will get back more than the tax you are charged. many kids stop in to work on homework there. This gives them a safe place to study. Want to buy something? Go look at consumer reports that they have. Want to relax? Check out a book to read. They have all subjects covered. You the taxpayer get back for the tax support. The jail is a you get nothing back. One person even said they eat mac and cheese with baloney when the prisoners eat better.
OldOne
: 11/8/2009
s.k., if you feel that all you can do is to "cry and pray", I would suggest a call to action instead. Praying won't do any good, go make your voice heard.
expatriot
: 11/9/2009
I would rather see the bond passed for the jail than infusing money anywhere else. The current facility is too small and has safety issues. The last thing taxpayers need is for a significant injury/liability to occur there. They're not asking to increase the comfort of the prisoners, but need the safety. Until people stop breaking the there will be a need to house criminals. We need to do this because this has been an issue for years. Do it before someone gets hurt and adds the cost of a big lawsuit to the bottom line.
: 11/9/2009
You had what, one attemp escape in how many years? This is like boating on the river 1 accident that I can ever remember and all the sudden its a issue. Government out of control.
: 11/9/2009
It seems to me that there is something wrong with a society that spends more money on jails and prisons than it does on schools. Who do we have to blame for this? Lawyers and judges who have more concern for criminals than they due for children. Lawyers who file lawsuits for and judges who demand comfortable conditions for criminals. Unless we the taxpayer and citizens you allow this to continue do some thing to stop this foolishness. It will continue to the detriment of our children and our society.
