Under pressure from federal judges, California has approved plans to build 53,000 new prison and jail beds as part of a $7.3 billion construction effort. Critics say increasing capacity does not address the reasons why prisons are overcrowded.
"The proposal could mean a massive increase for the state's $10 billion prison system and would rival the decade-long prison building boom that began in the late 1980s."
"But the deal, endorsed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, did not include changes to the state's criminal sentencing structure or parole system, which many experts have cited as key causes of overcrowding in California prisons and the state's nation-high recidivism rate. About 70 percent of the state's convicts return to prison within three years on parole violations or new crimes."
"The plan calls for two phases of prison and jail construction, and additionally would allow the administration to ship 8,000 inmates involuntarily to out-of-state prison facilities."
FULL STORY: Deal reached for 53K more prison beds
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.
Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.
San Jose Mayor Takes Dual Approach to Unsheltered Homeless Population
In a commentary published in The Mercury News, Mayor Matt Mahan describes a shelter and law enforcement approach to ending targeted homeless encampments within Northern California's largest city.
Atlanta Changes Beltline Rail Plan
City officials say they are committed to building rail connections, but are nixing a prior plan to extend the streetcar network.
Are Black Mayors Being Pushed Out of Office?
The mayors of New York, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh all stand to lose their seats in the coming weeks. They also all happen to be Black.
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