DiPaola presents jail plans to aldermen

DiPaola presents jail plans to aldermen
By George P. Hassett

A jail may be coming to the southeastern section of Somerville, in the area surrounding the district courthouse, said city and county officials this week.
    Middlesex County Sheriff James V. DiPaola met with the Board of Aldermen Thursday to offer his case for a new jail and discuss the possibility of it coming to Somerville. DiPaola presented a short video, complete with an acoustic guitar soundtrack, detailing the outdated, overcrowded conditions at the Middlesex County jail in East Cambridge.

    State officials have toured several sites in the city as possible locations for a new county jail to house prisoners awaiting trial. DiPaola said he needs a new facility because of overcrowding conditions in the East Cambridge jail. The jail houses 370 inmates, but was designed for only 160, he said. The jail occupies floors 17 through 22 of the Middlesex County Courthouse, which is targeted for closing by the end of 2007 to undergo asbestos removal and a $125 million rehabilitation. When the rehabilitation is completed, DiPaola said he will only be allowed to return 110 prisoners to East Cambridge.
    Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone said he expressed interest in possibly bringing a jail to the city because DiPaola has promised to include a new Public Safety building for city police in his plans.
    “It was a case of two elected officials with certain needs working together in an innovative way,” DiPaola said.
     The city needs a new police station because the current one is outdated and the subject of a lawsuit alleging it to be a hazardous work environment.  In Aug. 2005, nearly 60 people who work at the police station sought legal action as an attempt to get to the bottom of alleged health problems plaguing employees of the building. The suit claims they “were subjected to pro-longed exposures, to chronic damp conditions, and the types of molds that produce toxins as well as other hazardous substances present in their workplace environment.” The case has yet to be resolved.
    DiPaola stated his case to the board Thursday and answered questions from individual aldermen at the meeting. He stressed his history of working positively with host communities and assured aldermen the jail would not have a negative impact on Somerville.
   “Brownstones across the street from the East Cambridge jail are selling for $1.5 million,” he said.
    Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz said building a new jail would not put an end to soaring incarceration rates and this problem could arise again in the future when the latest jail becomes overcrowded.
   “I don’t see this problem going away,” she said.
    DiPaola said tougher sentencing laws for drunk driving and domestic violence crimes combined with mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug violations have boosted the number of prisoners in the state even as crime rates have gone down. He said he opposed mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines and acknowledges “we can’t build our way out of the crime problem,” referring to increasing prisons as a way to combat crime.
DiPaola also said he dramatically increased substance abuse programs in his prisons and takes an “in-depth, holistic” approach to preparing prisoners for their eventual release.
      At the meeting, Curtatone said he provided the Department of Capital and Asset Management geographical locations where a new jail could be built. The southeastern part of the city around the Somerville District Courthouse and the industrial areas bordering Boston and Cambridge are the best possible locations, he said.      
     Although plans for a jail in the city are in the earliest of stages, there is already opposition. State Rep. Carl M. Sciortino, D-Somerville, said he would oppose a new jail in the city and block the funding DiPaola would need from the state legislature. He said he would address the issue of overcrowding by funding more staff in the court system, so case backlog did not force prisoners to wait for trial in jail for up to a year.
    Patrolmen’s Union President Jack Leutcher is also opposed to DiPaola’s tentative plans to build a jail in Somerville, that would also serve as a police headquarters. The Patrolmen’s Union helped pay for testing of the current dilapidated police headquarters and supports the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, but Leutcher does not want a partnership with DiPaola to be the city’s solution to the issue.
   “We’re not on board with DiPaola,” Leutcher said. “He’s only trying to start his own little kingdom here and we don’t trust him. But also as a person who lives here, will a jail make Somerville a better, safer community?”
   DiPaola said it was important to him that the Somerville Police retain their own identity if the plan does go through and that all city police and jail facilities will be separate.   

         

Comments

[The Mole]

Oh O! Are we getting set-up again by this Administration? Does the Mayor feel if he deals with DiPaola this would enhance his chances after this Tuesdays’ elections? Somerville seems to be the scapegoat lately lining the pockets of the majority of City Officials by Developers, Councilors, Contractors and others.

All we have seen are humiliating events bestowed upon us. The Traffic Department theft whose anniversary is coming up soon, the Drug, Jewelry and Money desk that was mysteriously thrown out as trash, Parking Meter Scam that cost us plenty, the sudden resignation of one of the most trusted Civil Servants this City has even had working for us; Joe V., Koty Gate, City Union sell-out to this Administration in exchange for God knows what, the recent Environmental issues which descended on the City because of this Administrations lack of effort to protect our environment, the most arrogant pay raises this City has even seen proposed and passed with increases above and beyond the Mayors’ hand picked Committees’ recommendations and now, the talk of a new jail in the East end of the City with the possibility of combining our men in Blue with the Sheriffs Department.

How long do we have to put up with this type of incompetence? How long do we have to turn the other check? How long do are we going to stand this Administration going into our pockets to pay for their mistakes? HOW LONG is it going to take for use to wake up and change the direction of this City?

I ask only one question from the bloggers. Who was the Chairman of the Mayors’ hand picked Compensation Board that recently announced their proposed increase for our Fathers? WHO was it!!!

The Mole

[Sparky]

Mole:

That would be a certain electrical contractor, no?

[The Mole]

Sparky, the reason why I had inquired was because I had heard conflicting information. I too had thought TB was that person but have heard differently over the weekend.

The Mole

[Hope]

We won't have far to go to visit our own when they go up the river. They will still be here in town.

[Huh?]

Then who did you hear Mole? Is this another of your bs stories?

[Mole Fan]

The Mole is usually right on target. Thats why the adminstration hates his posts. Speaking of good posters, where has City Hall Nose been ?

[Ron Newman]

Your article refers to "The southeastern part of the city around the Somerville District Courthouse" -- but the courthouse is next to Assembly Square, which is not the least bit "southeast".

[Curt and Tony]

Does it really matter who was the head of the commission? They were all appointed by the Mayor and he got what he wanted.

The special election to fill the vacant seat should be "electrfying" and with just the right political "bent".

Run, Tom, run!

[Dr. Mrs. McCarthy]

Butters,

Read the article again you little putz. The first paragraph never says "Somerville district courthouse".

Take your morning medication yet there little buddy?

Dr. Mrs. McCarthy

[Ron Newman]

You're the one who didn't read the whole article. I quoted directly the 5th paragraph from the end. Not the first paragraph.

[huh?]

The Mole has NEVER been right... look back. plus what's the answer?

[Dr. Mrs. McCarthy]

Butters,

My apologies. The paragraph you cite does indeed lead one to believe that the proposed site is near Assembly Square.

You and I both know that the article's intent is to inform the readers that the City is looking in the Brickbottom and Innerbelt district.

Mr. Hassett has indeed made an error. Let's both go down to Davis Square and kick him swiftly in the nutz for this reporting error.

You are still a putz.

Much Love,

Dr. Mrs. McCarthy

[Born Here]

Dr. Mrs.
Ya, the snoops have been sniffing in behind the Cobble Hill area. Innerbelt also has some room with a possible link to North Point.