A few days ago the Genesee County Jail was well over capacity forcing County Sheriff Robert Pickell to declare an "emergency" and seek relief from the courts. Many inmates, nearing the end of their jail terms, were released early in order to return the number of inmates to the jail's capacity of 580 inmates.
Now, just a few days later, the county jail population is at 662. The city jail, which opens occasionally and on an unannounced basis, is a contributor to the number of inmates in the county jail. How? Well, it seems that for some reason people arrested and placed in the city jail can stay there for only 72 hours. At which point they must either be released or transferred to the county jail.
When the mayor of Flint was told that the city jail operation was a contributing factor to the county jail over crowding problem his retort was "That's their problem". What a brilliant response!
Instead of saying "I realize that is a problem. Lets sit down and work together to develop a way to fix it." the mayor simply says "That's their problem"! This, unfortunately, is indicative of the way the leader of the City of Flint approaches the issue of crime and violence in the city. Little wonder that Flint is the third most violent city in the United States.
And now for a little "icing on this cake". A recent county wide vote has determined that Genesee County property owners will now provide funding for free health care for county residents who have no health care plan. I wonder if the proposed funding had been provided by a county wide sales tax or income tax would the proposal have passed. I doubt it! The property owners seem to have become a "bottomless pit" for money.
With about 30% of the property owners now having trouble paying their taxes it appears that the well is beginning to run dry. But I digress. Now back to the point.
Well, now that the county is providing free health care I see Flint becoming a "Mecca" for those without health care. People will be flocking here from other areas to take advantage of this extraordinary "freebie"!
Michigan's governor, in a cost cutting move, has recently decided to close several of the state's prisons and release several thousand prison inmates. Now imagine yourself as a prison inmate just having received your "get out of jail free card". You have no job, no income and NO HEALTH CARE. Where are you going to go? Well let me think about it for about 2 seconds...I know...Genesee County! There I can be taken care of by the property owners who will provide me with free health care.
This is the "perfect storm" that Flint does not need! Over crowded jails with more criminals being drawn to the area by free health care. It is unfortunate that the health care vote can't be repealed and the funding redirected to building a larger city and/or county jail.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
It is now even more important than ever to spread the word to all taxpayers about the Taxpayer Protest Rally! Everyday taxpayers need to show up at the Capitol in Lansing on April 18, bring a teabag that we will deliver to the Governor, and tell Lansing politicians to balance their budget by cutting spending and enacting reforms; NOT BY RAISING TAXES ON CITIZENS! Get to the Capitol around 10:00am. Rally starts at 11:00am, but you will need time to park.
Taxspenders are planning to hijack this rally, and demand more and more of YOUR money. We cannot allow the voices of everyday taxpayers to be drowned out. Take the day off work, clear the calendar, gather your family and friends, and head to Lansing on April 18!
Post a Comment