North Block’s cleanliness needs the cooperation of its inmate population and staff alike. Last month, the Men’s Advisory Counsel (Mac) handed out a flyer asking for everyone’s cooperation in upgrading this housing unit’s cleanliness. The flyer pointed out specifics that, if put in practice, will result in having a cleaner and healthier living environment for all. Although cleaning materials are in short supply, North Block porters’ performance is above average, most residents agree. They sweep and mop all tiers twice on Second and Third … [Read more...] about North Block Inmates Trying to Stay Clean
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Van Jones: A Life With Ups and Downs
Gone from the White House Who is Van Jones? Van Jones is a human rights activist, Yale Law school graduate and founder of the Ella Baker Center and Green for All, both Oakland based organizations. Jones’s early morning resignation as Special Advisor to the President on Green Jobs and the Environment on September 6 led the Sunday morning political talk show circuit. He started his human rights work in San Francisco with an internship at the Lawyer Committee for Civil Rights. Jones graduated from Yale Law School in 1993 then came back to … [Read more...] about Van Jones: A Life With Ups and Downs
The Man in Black Is Back: Johnny Cash Tribute Concert
From the very first raucous, rollicking, foot-stomping guitar chords that rolled forth from the band’s introduction, it seemed quite certain to everyone gathered in the Garden Chapel— inmates, guards and free-staff alike— that somehow the legendary “Man In Black” had accomplished the impossible. Somehow the country music icon had managed to find a way to cheat the hands of fate and come back to perform one more time for the appreciative prisoners of San Quentin. He was here to celebrate that long ago memorable performance, 40 years to the day, … [Read more...] about The Man in Black Is Back: Johnny Cash Tribute Concert
Van Jones Shares His Green Mission
Van Jones, a Yale Law School graduate and Bay Area community organizer, uses words to inspire, encourage and educate. Jones is the author of The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems The two biggest problems he identifies are sociological inequality and the ecological crisis. Jones writes that we need to repair the earth, oppose racism and uplift the disadvantaged. He also expressed a belief that “our sisters and brothers in the developing world need the full engagement and cooperation of Western … [Read more...] about Van Jones Shares His Green Mission
Wong’s Rise To The Top
With a smile, R.K. Wong recalled his first prison job out of the correctional officer academy 26 years ago – working San Quentin Tower #4 on the graveyard shift. He said he thought, “What did I do to deserve this?” In December 2008, he returned to his roots, this time as the new acting warden at S.Q.. His first two years on the job were assignments in virtually all areas of San Quentin, from the dining hall to the lock-up units. In September 1985, he was transferred to CSP-Solano, “At the start of the California prison boom,” acting … [Read more...] about Wong’s Rise To The Top
Prisoners Conduct Mock Election
In a well organized peaceful civil-dissent to state law that prohibits state prisoners and parolees from voting in local municipalities and national elections, San Quentin inmates conducted a mock election on Sat.,Oct. 25 which marked the beginning of absentee voting in California. The ballot contained the presidential candidates, Obama-Biden (Democrat), McCain-Palin (Republican), Nader-Gonzales (Independent) and McKinney-Clemente (Green Party). It also included five state propositions from the Nov. 4 election, Prop. 5—The Nonviolent … [Read more...] about Prisoners Conduct Mock Election
A Victory For America
In an election that is truly one for the history books, Barack Obama won his bid for the White House in a sweeping victory, capturing an overwhelming number of the nation’s electoral college votes in a fashion which the nation has rarely seen. By 7:30 pacific time, Fox News had announced Obama the victor and president-elect. The other major networks followed suit of the announcement, forecasting Barack Obama as the next President. Over the next few hours, as the vote counts were broadcast on television, it was evident that Obama had … [Read more...] about A Victory For America
California Officials Openly Defy Federal Judge
California officials face fines of up to $2 million per day for refusing a federal judge’s order to turn over $250 million in state funds needed to jump-start construction on over $8 billion in improvements ordered to bring the medical facilities in its state prisons up to constitutional standards. The state’s long-running battle with U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson heated up Monday when lawyers for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and State Controller John Chiang questioned the judge’s authority to force the state to hand over the funds, or … [Read more...] about California Officials Openly Defy Federal Judge
Centerforce Holds 2008 Prison Reform Summit
Centerforce, whose mission is to support, educate and advocate for individuals, families and communities impacted by incarceration, hosted its 9th Annual “Inside/Out Summit” on Oct. 6-7 at the Double Tree Sonoma Wine Country in Rohnert Part, California. The theme, More Than One in One Hundred: the Crisis, the Issues, the Solutions, was in response to the report that came out in February from the The Pew Center on the States, which stated that there are now more than one in 100 adults incarcerated in the United States – more than any other … [Read more...] about Centerforce Holds 2008 Prison Reform Summit
‘NORA’ ON THE BALLOT
On November 04, 2008, the California voters will be voting on one of the most major changes in California criminal law in a very long time, known as “The Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act” (“NORA”). It is a multi-faceted shakeup of California’s justice system. Tens of thousand of those who would previously be incarcerated, including youths under 18, would now be placed in treatment instead of lockup. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office projects that NORA will reap $1 billion a year, or more, in savings to the California … [Read more...] about ‘NORA’ ON THE BALLOT