This should get some reaction... By Matt Rexroad on Sunday, August 17, 2008 @ 2:19 PM :: 35 Comments :: Blog   I just posted a comment on the People's Vanguard of Davis that I expect will lead to some name calling. Oh well. Here is the original post and all the comments. I think some of these people from Davis need to put up or shut up. Woodland has stepped up to provide land use for many of the things people from Davis advocate for.  Affordable housing. Housing for people with mental illness.  The Wayfarer Center.  Summer House. It seems to me that Woodland is doing some heavy lifting that some other communities in Yolo County are not doing.  I am calling them on it.  I look forward to the reaction.

Comments By Charlie in Esparto @ Sunday, August 17, 2008 5:03 PM Matt..to quote you in the vanguard "Since the cities are opposed we are looking at areas in unincorporated Yolo County." Well everyone in the unincorporated areas are also opposed to it...at least everyone I know..and I know a lot of folks out here...why the hell you pushing it on us?? We dont need this damn thing and it is just the 'door opening' for the state to try to build a huge prison in the future. Send it to the wide open spaces of eastern Lassen or Modoc Counites or the Califonia desert (if water can be had)....but don't force this on us. There is 'line drawn in the sand' on these and the Board is about to 'tared a feathered'. Charlie-san By Matt Rexroad @ Sunday, August 17, 2008 5:08 PM Charlie -- so you would pass on the facility , the services it provides, and the $30 million? By Matt Rexroad @ Sunday, August 17, 2008 5:09 PM Also Charlie -- where could we put it that people will welcome it with open arms? By Charlie in Esparto @ Sunday, August 17, 2008 9:01 PM Frankly that it the State's problem, and they can find a better place. Don't dump that facility or the future mega prison that will surely follow on us in the Western County! Your selling us out for cash...we realize that is the real aim here…and that is wrong! Charlie-san By Matt Rexroad @ Sunday, August 17, 2008 9:06 PM Charlie: I don't think you understand the issue. So we would not place correctional facilities (or any other facility) where the people object that live within how many miles? What is your standard here? This post was not about so much about the re-entry facility but the land use decisions in Davis. By Charlie in Esparto @ Monday, August 18, 2008 2:15 AM Matt, I understand the issue just fine. I is not a matter of miles...We dont want it here, there are better places for it and the folks out here are highly pissed. And frankely, I think the reisdents of this county should come first and if the board forces this on us...well I guees it is 'tar a feather' time....get my drift? Yolo County does not need this thing anyware...There are better suited places...so stop trying to balance the Counties future budgets on the backs of the rural communites! Charlie-san By DMGreenwald @ Monday, August 18, 2008 7:31 AM Charlie: Obviously you want the county to have to raises taxes to finance the expansion of the prison rather than take $30 million from the state. Interesting position. By JK @ Monday, August 18, 2008 8:28 AM Matt - definitely enjoyed your comments in the Vanguard. As a citizen of Davis, moderate liberal, and democrat, I still support your viewpoint far more than the other commentators. I love Davis, but the politics of this city often make no sense. When people here want something like public services, we should be willing to support them. By floatingfoam @ Monday, August 18, 2008 8:45 AM Covell Village! That's some funny stuff. Davis could have had one of the most advanced and sustainable living communities in the US of A, and instead, they get a re-entry facility. At least there would be less traffic! By yolovoter @ Monday, August 18, 2008 7:22 PM Yeah Charlie, should we raise taxes? And, how could you lose your previous election? Everybody knows republican party elections are about proving your love for country trhough military service, love for guns, and fervent anti abortion stance. What went wrong for you, then? Where did you fail? You obviously don't love your country enought. Or, you didn't emphasise the military service enough. Or was it too little harping on how illegal immigrants are destroying the country and how you'd stop them? Please enlighten me as outsiders like me are dying to know. By Matt Rexroad @ Monday, August 18, 2008 8:42 PM Yolo Voter -- we have missed you (sarcasm) I had a hunch that when Charlie-san posted here you might come in for a visit. By griffith @ Monday, August 18, 2008 9:37 PM Matt, I would like to see MY Board of Supervisors negotiate the following with CDCR : 1) The size of the facility. It will never grow beyond a population of 750 inmates. 2) This prison will be structured like a military boot camp. Any inmate who cannot tolerate this environment will be mainstreamed back into the current prison system ,with no exceptions. 3) All inmates WILL be involved in an intense learning environment. This will involve either teaching them a trade or furthering their education with college courses that will give them the skills and tools to go out into the real world and secure a job. 4) All inmates must agree to all the above conditions or they will not be allowed to enter the facility. 5) All inmates must request to come to the facility, NOT simply be required to do so. If the above is not agreeable with CDCR, they can take their re-entry facility and their 30,000,000.00 dollars and go away, period. Chris By Charlie in Esparto @ Monday, August 18, 2008 9:52 PM DMGreenwald....I don’t know what plant you live on but I never said a word about raising taxes! And oppose all un-warranted tax increases. The ‘Tax’ increase was Matt misinterpretation and oversimplification. But I firmly think the state should look else were for the facility and the Sups should not force it on the western rural area. YoloVoter...I am proud of all I stand for and proud to be both a Republican and a Marine. Why to you hate others who don't see the world as you do (from your view through your rose colored glasses)? Matt, I point out that even your father wrote a letter to the Editor pointing out the absurdity of the locations chosen for this facility. Charlie-san By Matt Rexroad @ Monday, August 18, 2008 9:58 PM Charlie -- easy to say NIMBY. Harder to say where you would put it. Where would you put it other than "not here"? Matt By Matt Rexroad @ Monday, August 18, 2008 10:01 PM Chris -- You are not too far off from what the facility will be. Although boot camp programs have proven not to be very effective. The recidivism rate is not really any better. The prisoner does have to be there voluntarily. They want to be there. We don't negotiate anything with CDCR in terms of programing. I don't know how intensive the training is but I understand it to be based on what has proven to be the most effective. Matt By Charlie in Esparto @ Monday, August 18, 2008 10:33 PM Matt. Like I said earlier, frankly it is the States problem to find a location...but they have already lost the battle of convincing us that the Dunnigan/Hungry Hollow Hills, Zamora or Dunnigan is a good idea. And you know it. The Cities and Residents of Davis, Woodland and West Sac all had the right to reject it...so you want to force it on use 'poor dumb rural hicks'... Ya Right! This is a really stupid idea and folks are steaming! There are better suited areas rather than this county. Charlie-san By Matt Rexroad @ Monday, August 18, 2008 10:38 PM Ok Charlie. Back to basics. Who do you think comes to the re-entry facility? Where are the prisoners from? By Charlie in Esparto @ Monday, August 18, 2008 11:03 PM Yes..Matt…back to basics...Yolo County and Points beyond. These folks are in jail because they committed serous crimes...first time offenders and honorable folks that make a mistake usually get probation rather hard time ‘locked up’. Now..Back to Reality Matt! ..the State has to close Vacaville in not so many years..10-20...and where do you think they just might put this new 'mega' prison??? Get off the fence. You claim to be a conservative Republican...it's time back it up and listen to the voters and residents of the areas your decisions will be affecting. Matt, as always...nothing personal.... Semper Fi, Charlie-san By Matt Rexroad @ Monday, August 18, 2008 11:08 PM Charlie -- They come from the counties that agree to be part of this program. Probably Yolo and Solano. "Points beyond" is not demonstrating an understanding of what is happening here. I am a conservative and this issue proves it. This is a huge benefit to the taxpayers of Yolo County and completely respects private property rights. What conservative principle does this violate? None. Matt By Charlie in Esparto @ Monday, August 18, 2008 11:23 PM Easy answer Matt... The folks out here don’t want it out here. So don’t force it on us (grant us equal rights of the city dwellers). Representative government...ya know what I mean? First you have the sell the plan...then they-the residents- need to buy in. However, this one is dead from the get-go. Almost half of this county (area wise) is represented by one Supervisor...and I admire that Sup and trust his judgment. I also admire you and hope you listen to the folks out here. As far as the other three Sups go...well, lets just say I doubt I would ‘follow them across the street’. Charlie-san By Matt Rexroad @ Tuesday, August 19, 2008 12:01 AM Charlie -- Folks not wanting something is not a conservative principle. Representative government is in place. Granting unincorporated areas equal rights granted under a piece of legislation is also not a conseravtive principle. Last I looked -- saving $30 million dollars and making government have to re-arrest fewer people would fit under conservative principles. Smaller more effective and more efficient government....you know? Those tiny little conservative principles. By Charlie in Esparto @ Tuesday, August 19, 2008 12:25 AM Matt, one does not stand in front of the people and become conservative because he/she proclaims to be conservative. The power to govern is derived from the consent of the governed... If you are Republican you believe in a strong Republic with freedom and justice for all and that the power of the government is used to insure the principle consent is not put aside (we fought a revolution against King George over just such a situation). The folks out here are not ‘consenting’...and many of them don't view you as a conservative (A point I argue with them regularly). I guess the bottom line (in this conservation) is rather pointless because almost all of us realize that the 3 Sups from the southern part of the county will force this facility upon us. But I do hope you reconsider your positions and fight for the governed who are not giving their consent. Charlie-san By Matt Rexroad @ Tuesday, August 19, 2008 12:31 AM Charlie: Under your concept of government we would not put a homeless shelter, dump, prison , most freeways, or any other such entity anywhere again. This is exactly what I accuse Davis of in the post the lead to this string of comments. By Charlie in Esparto @ Tuesday, August 19, 2008 1:27 AM Matt, of course we build those types of things...with consent. We also need Dams and Water Projects and real comprehensive flood protection. If you have 'buy in' from the governed these things can and do get accomplished (although I personally do not support your positions on homeless shelters). Case in point...although well over a decade ago...I was on the School board when we got 75% "yes' in favor for a bond (to raise taxes of all things in a conservative area)....The difference is we went out and got consent. In this case, your facility is getting an over-whelming 'No' from the people out here. They –the area residents- are not consenting…yet powers to be are going to force the issue. They- ‘the powers to be’ should look elsewhere. Charlie-san By JK @ Tuesday, August 19, 2008 10:45 AM Charlie: no population majority would actually want a prison in their area. Suggesting he finds somewhere where they "want" this is a joke. Stop being a NIMBY. And yes, you're being just as bad as the davisites. By Charlie in Esparto @ Tuesday, August 19, 2008 12:23 PM Matt, perhaps the wrong forum....But you use to be one heck of a fighter for what was right...Over the years you seem to have become entrenched in power politics, big money raising and all the trappings of power and position. In Washington we call it a 'Belt-Way Insider'...’lost touch with the common voter’. Sorry to say that Matt but it is true. I will also point out that I live in Esparto...the facility is being forced upon Zamora or Dunnigan. That is not my back yard but my neighbor’s backyard...and I have no problem standing up and fighting for them. You’re a Marine...Right? Let me put it this way...a leader that loses touch with his men or NCO's is doomed to failure...."Lt..listen to your NCO's and I will take care of the Colonel/Commander".. is a term I have use many time... I am sure you know exactly what I mean. Your first loyalty is always to your men (or citizens in the case of an elected official) Nothing personal, but you need to realize that. Charlie-san By JK @ Tuesday, August 19, 2008 12:39 PM Charlie, sorry to jump into your conversation, but this is just important to me. The State of California and the United States overall has one of the highest incarceration rates of any country in the world. We also have one of the highest rates of repeat offenders. This program seeks to improve those figures. It's a facility that takes inmates who are going to soon be returning to their Yolo and Solano communities, and tries to give them solid job skills that will keep them from returning to crime. However, this is contingent upon construction of the facility, and nobody wants a prison in their community. You could not possibly place this anywhere in Yolo or Solano counties and have people support it. So here's the question Charlie: Should a project which will increase overall social welfare and safety of the people be canceled because nobody will step up and volunteer to carry the burden? We all don't want to do certain things, but it's good for society - I don't want to pay taxes, but it's in my best interest in the long run to have police and fire services. By Matt Rexroad @ Tuesday, August 19, 2008 12:47 PM Charlie: This is right. Very right. In your example of a school bond measure you would have let those 30% that voted no prevent the whole thing from happening. I represent Woodland. This is in the best interests of Woodland and all of Yolo County. The people that object will not lose anything. Will they have the ability to use their property? Yes. You can call me names all you want but you have yet to give me a standard that is reasonable to judge these cases by. If we simply asked the people that lived right in the general area --- where would we ever be able to located a prison, homeless shelter, re-entry facility, jail, landfill, water storage, or the like. Your Marine example is an excellent one. Our primary objective is to accomplish the mission of providing services. The secondary consideration is the welfare of the troops. In this case we need to suck it up and make it happen. Think about this Charlie. Of the people I represent guess how many of them have objected to the re-entry facility? Three -- and one changed his mind. Matt By Charlie in Esparto @ Tuesday, August 19, 2008 1:10 PM Matt, Maybe this is above your experience level in the Corps, but the Mission is first when you are a NCO ...but the higher officers and SNCO realize that at their level, the Men come first...because no Officer or SNCO can complete a mission without the support and confidence of the Men he/she leads. Yes, you represent Woodland, Maybe the good folks of Woodland want it out in Dunnigan or Zamora...but the folks in Dunnigan and Zamora have loudly said 'NO'. So..who do you listen to..(awnser)...Both. Of course a leader would realize this is a huge problem and look for a different solution. (In my not so humble opinion) Charlie-san By JK @ Tuesday, August 19, 2008 1:30 PM Charlie: Make a suggestion then. I don't think there is a better alternative. Having the facility > Not having the facility By yolovoter @ Tuesday, August 19, 2008 6:36 PM You really are too easy, Charlie. Please keep posting. By Matt Rexroad @ Tuesday, August 19, 2008 11:49 PM Charlie: Good grief. In order to take a swipe at me and make a point you have taken one of the fundamentals of the United States Marine Corps and turned it upside down. I would love to see something (actually anything) from the Marine Corps that shows that accomplishing the mission is secondary to anything else. I was a staff NCO and have a pretty good idea what the Marine Corps is all about. By epa95653 @ Wednesday, August 20, 2008 10:40 AM Matt, I'd like to see some sort of long term plan simular to a general plan on the pros and cons of the re-entry facility. It seems when the State builds something in "the middle of nowhere" that eventually a sprawling citylike area is created. This would be later on down the road but a positive monetary cycle. I do understand "not wanting it in our backyard" but if the State has already picked our county then I would challenge those who oppose to share thier concerns rather than just yell "hell no!" I would also like to know that the State will not be turning this into a Prison and believe this to be a huge "con." Express By Charlie in Esparto @ Wednesday, August 20, 2008 10:47 AM Matt... I did not turn anything upside down. We teach young Lieutenants and NCOs that the mission comes first (and your Marines might die completing that mission)… yet we try to also teach them that their first loyalty is the the Men and Women they lead. Yes your are a SNCO, and you should realize that. A leader who leads by fear and intimidation, does not listen and says 'Suck it Up' ...is not a leader! Matt, I have been in the Corps 27 years, I have decorated a few leaders and conversely I have …unfortunately… had to relieve some. You might say the principle of 'your men first' comes with experience and is part of accomplishing the mission. You take care of the Marines & they will take care of the mission. We disagree on the re-entry facility...but more importantly the folks that live in these two communities disagree with you...and your going to say...'Suck it up'…to them?? Charlie-san By YoloCalVet @ Wednesday, August 20, 2008 2:01 PM I dunno Matt, I guess it doesn't matter how much lipstick you put on that pig....she's still gonna be a pig. Put that facility next to Herb Bauer's Mental Health Bldg, and a Section 8 High Rise next door. You must be logged in to post a comment. You can login here