Dear Supporter,
Things are moving fast around San Francisco’s disastrous plan to build a new maximum security jail. Yesterday, despite public outcry and denunciation, state officials awarded $80 million to San Francisco to finance the proposed $246 million jail.
They know how loud and strong our opposition is. That’s why they’re trying to barrel ahead and fast-track the new jail project.
On Monday, an advisory committee called the Capital Planning Committee will be asked to take extreme and potentially binding actions to not only accept the state’s $80 million offer, but also to commit the City to building the jail, and authorize the City to take out a high-interest loan for $215 million.
With all of the debt payments over the years, building this new jail would divert nearly $600 million out of the City’s general coffers, away from programs and services like education, mental health services, and affordable housing. That doesn’t include the costs of operating the facility — or the enormous human and social resources it will drain from our communities.
We can’t let them get away with this. 
There are two critical meetings happening on Monday and Tuesday, so I hope you are able to make it out! Also, please be on the look-out for action alerts to target the committee members and the Board of Supervisors as early as Monday morning.
1) Come to the Capital Planning Committee Meeting on Monday, Nov 16, City Hall Room 305, from 12 – 2 pm. Join us as we demand more transparency and more public engagement, and urge them to reject the jail plan.
2) Be prepared to mobilize to the Board of Supervisors hearing on Tuesday, Nov 17, City Hall, Legislative Chamber, at 2 pm. There’s a very good chance they will try to introduce any of the legislation that gets out of Monday’s meeting — we’ll let you know as soon as we know!
In solidarity,
Woods Ervin
TGI Justice
Critical Resistance – Oakland
Member of Californians United for a Responsible Budget
