BPNJ 5/9

Build Programs Not Jails (what is this?) meeting last night was missing quite a few people who had other obligations or conflicts, so I'll just be writing a quick summary as opposed to a full write up. There were some technical updates on the Story Project and Bail Fund projects. There was a bit of a discussion of Urbana's survey for plans for the Lincoln Square mall property and the recent News-Gazette report that the current owner didn't mind the input, but any decisions would ultimately be his and he insisted he had no intention of selling it. Seems a bit awkward since almost everybody there had the same impression I did that Urbana had some sort of control over its fate (future ownership, perhaps?) in asking the public for input into what would become of it. Maybe it's less direct?

There was some discussion on local issues and discussing what stance, if any the group as a whole should take on them. No decisions were made for announcement yet and generally there's going to be more research and discussions to get more information about them moving forward.

There was some technical discussion on the e-mail list and I shared an update from the Reentry Council meeting (more on that here) on their Claudia Lenhoff's desire to have a better understanding of the current jail expansion projects being geared towards space for services as opposed to increasing the number of people in jail cells. While ensuring that those already in jail get needed services and into programs outside of the criminal justice system when it would be a better option doesn't seem to be a point of contention, there's obviously a desire to see fewer people put into the criminal justice system in the first place.

There appears to be legitimate skepticism between where one sees the lines between idealism, pragmatism, and reasonable compromise versus being ineffectual by people throughout this issue. I doubt any solution exists that will make everyone entirely happy, but hopefully the passionate fight will give way to progress. And hopefully with skepticism comes accountability. Time will tell.

There were a couple announcements. A Public event with the author of "Becoming Ms. Burton," Susan Burton hosted by First Followers and the Education Justice Project. May 15th at 7pm at the Pilgrim Baptist Church. BPNJ will have a table. Facebook event page here.

ICE Watch, a group looking at immigration arrests and detentions in the area will be meeting at 1pm at the IMC.