Mike Holtz said:
"....Stay home and send a check, for God's sake. And with that
check, send a message - even though it may be a small one - that the
opening of a new jail is not something for any thinking, feeling
person to celebrate."
Hear, hear! I too was disgusted with the web site, and the idea of
partying
at the site of other people's misery.
Several years ago I volunteered weekly as a tutor at the Hennepin County
Juvenile Detention Center. It was a sobering and somber environment.
Not a place to play-act being in jail, while downing drinks and fancy
snack foods. (The meals I ate then courtesy of the Hennepin County were
not prepared by an upscale catering firm.)
I admit visiting a jail is an interesting and enlightening
experience--but one that should be done in a mood of contemplation and
sadness. Maybe a little like visiting a massacre site like Oklahoma
City, Wounded Knee, or Hiroshima.
I just checked with Sheriff Pat McGowen's office and learned that there
will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new jail on Thursday, June 21,
at 2pm. It will be followed by tours of the facility. If you want to
see it then that would be a more appropriate way.
Even better, think about being a volunteer. I don't know if they have
any volunteer programs with the adult detainees, but maybe they do.
They certainly had volunteers at the nearby Juvenile Detention Facility.
But the charity event smacks too much of dancing on someone else's
grave. Not something I'd feel right about doing, no matter how worthy
the cause.
BTW, my wife and I walked by the building last Sunday morning, and spent
some time talking with a Facilities Management person on break. It was
very interesting.
Alan Shilepsky
Downtown
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