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Councilmember Andrews Seeks Aid For Released Prisoners by Ryan ZumMallen | Archive | 03.15.10 |
+  7:00am | Councilmember Dee Andrews will ask his colleagues at tomorrow's City Council meeting to direct the City Manager to develop a plan to aid recently released prisoners as California prepares for the release of 6,500 inmates in the next year.According to the Press-Telegram this morning: Andrews wants the prisoners who end up in Long Beach to be given opportunities to find jobs and leave crime behind. These "low-level" prisoners are being released under budget-cutting legislation signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last year. Click here to read the Press-Telegram story. Click here to read our policy on covering the Long Beach City Council.
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47 Comments so far.
oh my Bad ideas for 500 Alex... LBRES Should we also pay for housing, food, etc. Why oh why do the stupid get rewarded? Let's send a bus to pick them up and bring them here! They made bad decisions I didn't. Dee, really?! Jerry M. From what I understand, this program is ONLY for those released in Long Beach. I would rather help them get a job than have them drug deal and go back out doing crime. Johnny Come on now, what's next? What about putting a little more effort into helping non-criminals find work? These politicians really don't live in the same world as the rest of us. What make them think that giving these " low level" criminals help finding jobs will keep them from repeating the same behavior that got them locked up to begin with. This burden does not need to be passed on to the taxpayers along with all the other ridiculous ideas the politicians keep coming up with. fos43 So the law abiding citizens who are trying to weather furlough days, pay cuts and increased responsibilities are now going to support criminals using our tax dollars? Casey Thanks, Dee, for always siding with the down and out and making us look like the caring city we are. We are the only city within LA County that has it's own health dept. The city that has more non-profits that help people...that seems to make us a people city. Yes, we need to be proactive and develop a plan for those prisoners to be released in Long Beach. Resident Maybe we should just give them some land in Long Beach so they can grow Pot for the Med Pot Dispensaries! Are you kidding me, How do these guys stay in office. Chances are these released prisoners will be Appling for welfare or some other government assistance anyways. If they have learned anything they may have family to stay with if not they will be back in sooner or later. Cliff Dweller Hey, I have a new directive for the City Manager... Let's find a way to have these inmates shipped someplace else. That's a much more cost effective solution. g what happened to family and church helping these guys get back on their feet. First and foremost councilmember Andrews why don't you try to reduce the ridiculous pension and benefit packages. Then we would not have a budget problem, and we would not be releasing prisoners early. The only thing you should be doing as a city council member is making it easier for businesses to thrive and be able to hire employees, you do not create jobs you only have the ability to make it easier or more difficult for them to stay in business. Let the prisoners finish there sentences. Hmmmm So if you commit a low-level crime, you get priorty access to jobs??????? How about people who have been laid off? Johnny The article states that Mr. Andrews has no idea how much this will cost the cash strapped city. Then why even consider this nonsense. Do a little research before you jump into something with both feet. Please let's vote out all incumbents. They are completely out of touch with reality. clarity If anyone actually bothered to read the item before Council, this is simply asking the City Manager to report on how Long Beach will make sure prisoners who come here KNOW about EXISTING services. No one is talking about creating new programs. Governor S is going to release these folks. That's a done deal. So here's the choice: We can be ready to connect them with services, or we can pretend they arent here and watch them go back to a life of crime. Those are the choices. Mr Andrews is showing prescience and good civic leadership; too bad the Press Telegram isnt more clear on what this really is. Jerry Curl The obvious answer is to VOTE Mr Andrew SEEKS out of office in the next election, Your VOTE will Speak louder than the written word!!! Uncle Bob It to bad Long Beach needs to take on more criminals. Release them to somewhere else. Born in Long Beach What aid prisoners. What about hard working people that have lost their job and are not criminals. Many have run out unemployment insurance payments, and medical insurance. The state is has no money, county no money and city no money. We can not give any more handouts to anyone. We need public sector jobs BUT the city has lost most of those. The Boeing C17 program will shut down in 2012. Long Beach schools will let go 1,000. New proposal for ship repair facility with 900 jobs is running into problems with the Harbor officials. Jobs have been outsourced to onshore Visa workers and offshore to other countries. No jobs yet from proposed Telsa plant or LB Studios which may never even happen. Help the non criminals 1st. No Tax money for criminals JOBS Unhappy Resident I don't know who helped Dee Andrews when he got out of jail; Dee, start with yourself. You start your own nonprofit and really be a servant, in a Christian sense of the word. I'm still not okay with you getting such a big leg up. Otherwise, ask a real saint, Melanie Washington, to put something together. there's a woman who knows how to change lives. ANOTHER STUPID IDEA!!! Let's point out the ovious to this do-good idiot politician. Most of these so-called low-level criminals being released are serious offenders. Their charges were "pleaded down" when they were convicted. The 1st low-level & harmless prisoner released attempted to rape a social worker within hours of his release. Most of them are dangerous and going to commit serious felonies all over again. So let's put a sign up and invite them all to Long Beach to prey on the citizens of Long Beach. In fact, lets give them free housing in the sex offender buildings so they can endanger our wives and daughters right along with those scumbags. How do these out of control condo association idiots get into office? Howard This is just like the stupid legisators in the congress thinking up Stupid ideas, like we want more convicts in Long Beach Get a Grip............. Matt Not a chance in hell. clarity man, the commenters on here are CLUELESS. This isnt inviting anyone to Long Beach, or bringing criminals here, or making new aid programs. It's just to INFORM released prisoners (who were let go by the STATE, not the City) about the services that exist. That INCREASES the chance they get work instead of going back to crime. You people need to READ and UNDERSTAND legislation before CRITICIZING it Dave in Alamitos Beach In the past I've half jokingly suggested that Long Beach buy up a few foreclosed McMansions out in Palmdale or Moreno Valley (or even better, buy up the city of Trona), etc., and ship our sex offendors out there. Maybe now the "early release" prisoners would be welcome to join them out there? If they're going to commit crimes again, why not do it in a relatively unpopulated area? If they're not going to commit crimes, then it doesn't matter where they are, they will forge ahead. Response to Clarity... Sure, when you "inform" these convicts about the great programs we have for them it won't be inviting...it won't attract any of them! And with all of the jobs available right now, these convicts are going to get hired right away...I can't wait to hire a couple for my business! And then when they all have jobs, none of them will commit any crimes in Long Beach. Oh, the state is releasing them, not the city...that means we can't do anything...we just have to welcome them in...stupid me! You're right, I should have read the legislation first, then I would have understood the way it's going to work...it't going to be great!!! Resident Clarity, if you put together programs for homeless you get more homeless. If you have programs for criminals, the motivated ones will find them on their own. If we put up a sign we will just get criminals from other cities. Just like the homeless. We can't afford it research first As always the Press Telegram didn't do much, if any, research before reporting. And most of you just follow along like a bunch of uninformed lemmings. Of course we need to have these inmates informed and instructed before they are released back into society - for ALL of our sakes. Fed Up I've been reading the comments and everyone is on the same page. Once again the people who play by the rules and make the country work are getting hosed by out of touch mongoloid politicans who should be flipping burgers instead of micromanaging our lives. We should put them all on the unemployment line. More for Clarity... Clarity, why don't you move to Santa Monica and invite all of the convicts to live in your home with your wife and your daughters over there! It will be great...you can give them your money and teach them how to do things that they will never get jobs doing...and then they can commit crimes on your family...not mine!!! Santa Monica has tons of programs that you can inform them about! Johnny Clarity...This is copied right from the article......The councilman said that although he doesn't know how much this program might cost, he would be willing to spend some money if the cash-strapped city can scrape together the funds. How do you suppose they are going to scrape together funds? The real deal Andrews is doing the right thing. If the inmates are going to be released early than society has to have a plan for them to keep them busy and focused on taking care of themselves and their families. If it doesn't happen they will either #1 get into more trouble and become a threat to society or Tax payers will have to keep taking care of them. They need work to assure they make their own money and they will not have to result in violence or doing illegal things to try to survive. The bottom line is help them before they hurt someone else or our pockets!!! Response to the "Unhappy You said it yourself!!! Dee got on his own feet by several means of support from non other than "financial assistant programs" He utitized it the right way. He knows what needs to be done and has first hand on experience as of what others need. FIRST AND FOREMOST, it is a CHANCE and OPPORTUNITY. That is what he had and wants to help others in the same way. so instead of criticizing what he is trying to accomplish, since you know so much about him and what he has been through, you of all people should jump on his team and help make it happen. If you can't help fix it, than don't speak on it!!!! Fantasy Land Do-Gooders What utopian fantasy world are you guys living in if you think that these people are going to move in to Long Beach, get a little bit of training, go get good paying jobs, and be fine upstanding citizens. We should give them free health insurance too, right? Most of these people are felons. They don't want jobs, nor are they capable of having one. The first chance they get, they will commit more crimes...they will rob, steal, rape, & murder...all in our community...and our family and friends will be the victims. When that happens, all of you clueless do-gooders should look in the mirror and take responsibility! Master Lee Here's a suggestion: Jump start our factory industry again (because China is currently a mess in the factory industry) and have these ex-inmates go work there to repay the taxpayers money back!!! JimF How about telling them that Long Beach has no money, no jobs, no place to live. They could than move on..... I see Dee has pasted his first test to move to Sacramento. He should be elected with no problem. clarity @fantasy land do gooders: Join the list of people who dont bother to know what they're tlaking about before spouting off. NONE OF THESE PEOPLE ARE FELONS. This is an early release program - IMPLEMENTED BY THE GOVERNOR - for NONFELONS ONLY There is NOTHING we can do to keep them out of long beach. Do you suggest a wall? If you dont have a real suggestion, then just be quiet. These people are coming here if they want to. So the choice is: Do nothing, or be prepared. God Bless Dee for wanting to be prepared. As to Santa Monica: We WISH we could have the quality of life they enjoy. They have a MUCH lower crime rate than we do. You just sound silly pointing to Santa Monica as an example of what terrible fate awaits us. We could do a whole lot worse. Santa Monica is proof you can be progressive and empathic and still have a great, wealthy city that attracts tourists and is safe for families. Meanwhile, this agenda item has nothing to do with any of that. It just proposes to ensure that prisoners (NONFELONS) who come to long beach are connected with services that ALREADY EXIST. How anyone could oppose that is beyond me. What a bunch of reactionary, ignorant people in this town. Bus to Texas Give em all a one way ticket to Texas. Unemployment is low, and Texas knows how to deal with criminals! Dennis Clarity, you might want to take a step back accusing people of not reading and not knowing before commenting. The inmates being released are from the state prison system. Misdemeanor convictions do not end up in state prison if they receive jail time (one year or less is the norm I believe). If someone is in state prison they are convicted of a felony. Whether it was a plea bargain from a much more serious offense to a plea to non-violent offense or a jury trial conviction, it is still a felony. The state prison system is not for your DUI offenders, shoplifters, got caught with a bag of dope. Those are the ones the county releases early. The state is releasing prisoners whose most recent conviction, or sentencing, was for a "non-violent" felony. CHARLIE to DEE Well Dee, what I've read so far of all the comments showen here, you must be feeling quite alone on your proposed charitable "AID REQUIST" from City Council for early released prisoners due to state budget concerns; You must have taken one of those bravery pills:), but I want you to know I happen to stand with you whole heartedly as I have no doubt that is what Our Blessed Lord is asking you and City Council to do. We must show compassion & forgiveness if we're ever going to HELP these prisoners turn thier lives around to positive citizenship - You have my support & prayers! They're all felons Clarity, virtually all of them are felons. Most of them committed felonies, but pleaded down to midemeanors. The ones whose most recent crimes are not felonies have previous felony convictions. Oh, and because the wanna-be governor implemented this stupid a** plan, that makes it good? That idiot is as responsible for ruining this state as much as any other of the idiots in Sacto. If they didn't waste all of our hard earned tax dollars on senseless programs like this, we wouldn't be facing this dilemna. I'm not proposing a physical wall, but how about letting them know that they are not welcome here...I certainly can't imagine shouting out to them "hey, all of you criminals, come to Long Beach, we've got free services for you!" You ask for a plan...we have all been giving you our plan, but you're too busy looking down your liberal nose to hear us...the first part of our plan is to NOT INVITE them here! Those that do come here, let's shine the light on them...they will all scatter out of here like the cockroaches that they are! Alexis Cooper Thanks Dee for having compassion and foresight regarding the release of these men. I wonder if the naysayers realize that many of these inmates were born and raised in Long Beach. Many have family and loved ones in Long Beach who also pay taxes. I wonder if they realize that many of these men have paid property taxes as well as other taxes before their incarceration. So many of you call yourselves christians and people of God, but you are a bunch of hypocrites! What about redemption? You have my prayers and my full suppport Councilman Andrews. Keep up the good work. Their is power in doing the right thing no matter who is against you! Blessings and Peace! clarity Not sure what aprt of "low level offender" you folks dont understand. Also not sure what "plan" you are saying you've suggested. Mr Andrews is talking about having our police prepared to direct these folks - WHEN THEY ARRIVE HERE - to service to their GED. get job training (available to anyone, not just prisoners), get substance abuse treatment if they need it, get an anger management class. You'd rather have us ignore them until they commit a crime, then spend ten times the money incarcerating them again? Great plan guys! Glad none of these bonehead commenters are running the city. Go Dee! Paul "Thanks Dee for having compassion and foresight regarding the release of these men. I wonder if the naysayers realize that many of these inmates were born and raised in Long Beach," said Alexis Cooper. Alexis, are you for the plan to bus in MENTALLY ILL HOMELESS from other places too? Some may be child molesters. Is is not the pitts that Alexis and Dee see fit to endanger our lives and those of our children? Just what kind of "compassion" is that? I would like to see, you and all of your ilk get on a bus outa here. I truly believe that would make for a better Long Beach. Felon Mom I agree with Charity, I feel like we as law abiding citizens, and those that profess to be, that just haven't got caught. Show keep their mouths shut, on less the are in the other person's shoes. I know for a fact that some of these "Felons" are still good people, and given a chance they could show you, but mostly everyone is not willing to do this. Some of you need to take a closly look at your comments. I know freedom of speech is one of your rights. But remember hate speeches and threating words, is also a crime. Now how can now be classified as a "Felon". I know a person that did 10 months for such words, some of you have spreading around. That person did not do time in the county jail, they did prison time. Plus you mention about taking jobs away from those that are already unemployed. Maybe some of the unemployed are not willing to except a lower paying job, where these people will, just to be independent. You best believe that they are aware of everything going on in California, no jobs, no money, and etc. And like someone else commented on this is their home as well as your, born, raised, and some have been tax paying citizen as well. I said this to let you know Dee I am behind you all the way. I don't think you have hid your background with the law, but I think that it is childish for some one to bring it up in a negative way. That goes to show most of these people are not educated and are down right scandlish. You guys need to get grip on reality. It will happen and you might as well get prepared to show that you agree. Livi An example from San Francisco: http://blog.techsoup.org/node/1206?cg=btc&sg=mar3 CHARLIE to FELON MOM GOOD for you, Felon Mom; The Peace & Blessing of Our Lord be ever present with you and your family, and you too, Dee. You are an example of what can be accomplished when given the opportunity by people that cared - it's the difference between love and selfishness. Lord knows if anyone needed our help and prayers, are the naysayers! Johnny Livi....That is fine, but it is not being funded with taxpayer dollars. John Greet I think all would do well to read the actual agendizing memo found in the legistar database on the Clerk's page of the City website. Included in the memo is the disclosure that prison officials are under *no obligation* to notify either local law enforcement or crime victims of who is being released under this program or when or where. So if local officials aren't notified, how can we immediately engage with these releasees and offer them any programs or services? Do we expect that they'll just walk in and report to us where they will not be required to report to any parole agent? My sense is that many of them will just do their best to re-enter society as quietly as possible and the only one's we ever hear from again will be those who re-offend. I fear there will likely be more than the average number who will re-offend because they will not be placed on any parole status, formal or informal, that often serves as a powerful motivator for ex-cons to stay on the straight and narrow once released. Interesting times, my friends! clarity @john greet: That's exactly the point. We need to know who these people are and where they are going. Maybe the PD and City MGR can work with state officials to accomplish that. I dont know. But we wont help matters by simply ignoring the situation. Glad Mr Andrews had the foresight to want to make a PLAN. LBfelon Speaking as a twice convicted felon,who has been clean for over 10 years, most of you have no clue what goes on in these peoples heads. Quit trying to think you do. If they want to clean up their act they will. If they don't, they won't. No programs will help...PERIOD. End of story. Do not waste the money.
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Ryan ZumMallen has served as the managing editor of the LBPOST.com since 2007. He graduated from CSULB with a degree in Print Journalism in 2008 and is a member of the 2009 class of Leadership Long Beach. You can find him on various basketball courts around the city.
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