KUDOS FROM BERKELEY SUBSCRIBER
Dear SQNews:
I appreciate and enjoy receiving the SQNews the past year and look forward to receiving it again.
Sincerely,
― Carole C. Cool, Berkeley, Calif.
NORTH KERN READER SALUTES SQNEWS
Dear SQNews:
Salutations. My name is Rene Franco and I am currently at North Kern State Prison.
I came across a San Quentin News and read a lot of your articles. I like what you do for incarcerated persons. Your newspaper has a lot of insight which I liked.
Much Obliged,
― Rene Franco, CSP North Kern, Delano, Calif.
LIFERS SADDENED BY PENDING CLOSURE OF CALIFORNIA MEN’S COLONY
Dear SQNews:
The majority of inmates here are greatly saddened by the proposed closure of the California Men’s Colony, West Facility. Many lifers spent a lot of years trying to get here and they are now faced with being thrown back into the “system” that they thought they had escaped from. I am not a lifer, but I recognize their distress and embrace their cause as if I too were a lifer.
The California Men’s Colony West facility of CDCR is considered by many to be its crown jewel.
Instead of grey walls and structures, there are colorful flowers and vegetable gardens throughout. Inmates hand-feed wild turkeys, raccoons, squirrels and feral cats, and many various species of birds.
Dogs being trained to assist veterans and first responders with PTSD add to the animal population.
CMC West is supported by diverse religious denominations, services and programs.
California is generally considered to be a progressive state on the cutting edge of many new approaches to old issues with the exception of mass incarceration and poor rehabilitation.
CMC West should be a proving ground for new rehabilitation programs for other correctional systems rather than being closed.
― Dennis M. Daly, California Men’s Colony, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
FORMER SQ RESIDENT PRAISES CONTINUITY OF SAN QUENTIN NEWS
Dear SQNews:
If it weren’t for your paper and your program, I’d be so unaware of what goes on in the prison or what opportunities I have as an inmate at North Kern State Prison.
This is my second term and I did time in San Quentin my last term. I remember how much I loved getting a copy of the paper when it rolled out.
Thank you for 83 years of journalism and inspiration!
― Reginald Tave CSP North Kern, Delano, Calif.
CORCORAN COMIC ARTIST HEADING TO SAN QUENTIN?
Dear SQNews:
It’s an honor to have my comics published in San Quentin News.
I am sending you four more comics with this letter, and I sent a few in January as well.
I went to committee and asked for transfer to SQ.
I am now awaiting endorsement to SQ. It is up to the CSR. Can SQ staff pull me there?
I meet all requirements: I am a level 2. I can climb stairs and I am vaccinated. I am drug free, non-violent, and have served 21 years thus far.
I would love to work for SQNews. and to do the Journalism Guild class to learn. I also want to join KidCat, Humans of San Quentin, and Brothers Keepers.
I am currently a contributing writer for Prison Journalism Project and have been published. I also work as Senior Inside Organizer with Initiate Justice, inside organizer for F.U.E.L. (as a lifer, not an LWOP), organizing CSP-Corcoran’s Youth Anthology, contributor to the Compassion Prison Project, and I just petitioned for my associate degree.
They have 30 days to transfer me from 2/23/23. So I should be endorsed around March 13-17. I hope the transfers CSR sends me there.
Sincerely,
— Jessie Milo, CSP Corcoran, Corcoran, Calif.
Hey Jessie! Thanks for dropping us a line, and for all of the creativity you put into your craft. We’ve been honored to print your comics and bring a little humor to our readers.
Believe it or not, you’re not the first person to pick up the San Quentin News and be inspired to transfer here. Our coverage of rehabilitative opportunities is meant to inspire readers to seek change and personal betterment, and we’re always glad to hear that these stories are having an impact.
If and when you make it to The Q, drop by the newsroom!
— Ed.
