Jail expansion � just another shell game?

Jail

expansion - just another shell game?

We're all familiar

with the age-old shell game where the scam artist tries

to get you to focus on where the nut isn't and keep your

focus off of where the nut actually is. The hand can be

quicker than the eye!

Newspapers

appear to have their own version of the shell game, at

least that seems to be the case with recent articles

about the proposed jail expansion. First of all, a front

page article is published about the fact that the

proposed jail expansion "is not" a state

prison. They should have spent as much effort to explain

what the jail expansion "is" rather than what

"it isn't."

Are you

keeping track of where the nut is, or have the

distractions got you to focus on where "it

isn't."

It's about

time that those local officials that feel the need to get

defensive about public comment focus on what is being

said, and begin to make appropriate comments about what

the jail expansion "is" versus what "it

isn't."

Let's begin

now to turn over the shells and see where the nut is.

First of

all, the jail expansion is a county jail that is

projected to have approximately 800 beds. This facility

will house state prisoners that originate from this

county as they await a bed in a state prison. Today our

small jail is holding approximately 13 percent of state

prisoners.

Secondly,

there were two lock-downs in Fayetteville's elementary

schools in 1998 due to escaped prisoners from the local

courthouse. The jail expansion is planned to include an

enlarged county courthouse, so it is only reasonable to

expect that a larger facility will increase the

likelihood of this risk to the surrounding community.

Frankly,

I'm getting a bit tired of the shell game. Why don't you

begin to deliver information about what the jail

expansion "is" rather than what "it

isn't."

Jim D.

Fair

Fayetteville

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