The City of Santee is using Twitter and Facebook to protest a planned prison expansion on nearby county land.
"A marketing firm contracted by the city has set up a Web site, Facebook page and Twitter account under the handle 'nojailexpansion.' The city is using the sites to lobby against the county's proposed $300 million expansion of the Las Colinas Detention Facility in Santee.
"Keep in mind this is not akin to advocating for a position or a candidate as part of an election campaign," Santee City Manager Keith Till said. "This is a public policy debate."
The county has proposed replacing the 810-bed Las Colinas women's jail – the only all-female jail in the county – with a new, 1,216-bed facility. The site would increase from 16 acres to 45 acres in the center of the city. County officials are preparing an environmental impact report on the project, which could go to the Board of Supervisors later this month.
In place of a mug shot, Santee's Facebook page features a graphic that says, 'Jail Expansion: Know the Facts.' Below that are postings discussing how quickly the city is growing and the potential for increased traffic, and saying that the plan is a misuse of taxpayer money."
FULL STORY: City turns to Twitter, Facebook to fight jail expansion
For Planners, Investment in Social Media Pays Dividends
With the right approach, social media can expedite the exchange of information between stakeholders, facilitate participatory planning, and build better places. Two case studies offer insight for using social media to connect with communities.
Is Twitter Still an Effective Planning Tool?
Twitter has been a daily dose of drama and upheaval ever since Elon Musk offered to pay over $40 billion to buy the social media platform. Media outlets and public transit agencies had been abandoning the social media platform—should planners?
Twitter for Planners in 2022
Twitter is changing, not in the way Elon Musk wants it to, but it’s still perhaps the most useful social media platform for planners looking for education and engagement.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie