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Council should tread lightly on detention center proposal
When things seem too good to be true, wise people investigate. We would like to think our city government is wise. But we have serious doubts.
We are talking about the euphemistically named "Family Residential Center of the Southwest." What sounds like a housing development is in fact a detention center for illegal aliens. Presumably if you call a prison a "residential center," it is more palatable to the voters. Developers of this center want the city to OK its construction near the airport.
Judging by last night's meeting, council is already sold on the proposal. In fact, Thelma Grimes learned that the developers of the detention center have met with council members during the last few weeks. They avoided open meeting law requirements by gathering three at a time. They have even talked to the Medicine Shoppe about providing pharmaceuticals to "residents."
This seems to be going at a blistering pace. We would like to see council slow down and do some homework. There are several levels of concern here. The first is the obvious one. Not many people are eager to have a detention center in their back yard, despite the promises from George Scott of the Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group that it would bring jobs to Benson.
The kinds of jobs these things bring are minimum wage. Moreover, there won't be any jobs if the facility, once built, doesn't win a bid to house these illegals. There is no guarantee from the federal government that if Benson builds it, they will come. A town in Montana was persuaded by these same developers, and floated revenue bonds to build a facility. Years later, the facility stands empty, and the revenue bonds are in default.
Secondly, there is the appearance of obfuscation. If you don't call it a detention center, maybe people will think it's kind of like a hotel. Come on. Let's be honest here. If you are sent to some place and then not permitted to leave at will, that is not a residential center; that is a form of prison.
Third, there is real concern about the developers of this thing. Their track record for making money themselves on building these facilities is good. But their track record for leaving cities better off than they found them is very poor. Las Cruces, N.M., got the same pitch a little while ago, and fortunately for them, a cautious state senator has interjected himself into the discussion to slow things down.
Mayor Fenn noted that if Benson didn't build this facility, some other town would and "reap the benefits." Before we get on the bandwagon, let's make sure there really are benefits. What Benson doesn't need right now is millions of dollars of revenue bonds in default and an empty prison, or "residential center," out by the airport.
We are talking about the euphemistically named "Family Residential Center of the Southwest." What sounds like a housing development is in fact a detention center for illegal aliens. Presumably if you call a prison a "residential center," it is more palatable to the voters. Developers of this center want the city to OK its construction near the airport.
Judging by last night's meeting, council is already sold on the proposal. In fact, Thelma Grimes learned that the developers of the detention center have met with council members during the last few weeks. They avoided open meeting law requirements by gathering three at a time. They have even talked to the Medicine Shoppe about providing pharmaceuticals to "residents."
This seems to be going at a blistering pace. We would like to see council slow down and do some homework. There are several levels of concern here. The first is the obvious one. Not many people are eager to have a detention center in their back yard, despite the promises from George Scott of the Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group that it would bring jobs to Benson.
The kinds of jobs these things bring are minimum wage. Moreover, there won't be any jobs if the facility, once built, doesn't win a bid to house these illegals. There is no guarantee from the federal government that if Benson builds it, they will come. A town in Montana was persuaded by these same developers, and floated revenue bonds to build a facility. Years later, the facility stands empty, and the revenue bonds are in default.
Secondly, there is the appearance of obfuscation. If you don't call it a detention center, maybe people will think it's kind of like a hotel. Come on. Let's be honest here. If you are sent to some place and then not permitted to leave at will, that is not a residential center; that is a form of prison.
Third, there is real concern about the developers of this thing. Their track record for making money themselves on building these facilities is good. But their track record for leaving cities better off than they found them is very poor. Las Cruces, N.M., got the same pitch a little while ago, and fortunately for them, a cautious state senator has interjected himself into the discussion to slow things down.
Mayor Fenn noted that if Benson didn't build this facility, some other town would and "reap the benefits." Before we get on the bandwagon, let's make sure there really are benefits. What Benson doesn't need right now is millions of dollars of revenue bonds in default and an empty prison, or "residential center," out by the airport.
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