[Peace] County B Mtg HELP!

[Sandra Ahten]

The County Board meeting this Thursday will again discuss the inmate jail 
phone contract. I had thought that perhaps we just needed bodies there to 
show support for ending this atrocious practice... but after discussing 
strategy with some Board members... I think we need speakers also.

The Finance Committee of the Board is going to be saying that they want to 
renegotiate the contract with Evercom without sending it out for bid. They 
want Evercom to make the cost of the phone calls less -- but essentially 
they do not want to give up their little piece of the pie ($14000 per month) 
in order for that to happen.

I am calling all CB members prior to the meeting this week. I am hoping they 
will agree to this compromise:
They do renegotiate the contract with Evercom and try to get the price of 
calls to be reduced. The new contract will expire November 30, 2005 (with 
the County Boards fiscal year end). The next budget not include the $14,000 
per month -- or any revenue commission from the phone contract -- and the 
phone contract go out for bid in time for a new contract to be implemented 
in November.

This compromise gives them the ability to not have to alter this years 
budget which has already been passed. If we have enough show of support at 
Thursday's meeting... and calling all board members before Thursday we might 
get it.

Even if they do not agree to it... they may agree to l do exactly as 
outlined above... except they won't commit to not accepting the $14,000... 
it will still be a victory in that they will not be locked into another 2 
year contract that can be eternally renewed. In actuality it probably takes 
4 or 5 months to send a contract out for bid... so we just will need to stay 
on them through the time the contract goes out for bid (August?)


And we will not let them forget that they are being watched. I will continue 
to grow the movement to abolish it unethical practice of accepting the 
kickback. They will be witness to a grassroots campaign the likes of which 
they will not forget.

Please join us on Thursday night at Brookens Administration Building. Please 
let me know if you will be there. If you are willing to speak, please call 
or email  me. I'll help you write a script if you want. Do you know anyone 
who has had family in jail who might speak? If so -- they most likely have 
been touched by this. Please encourage them to join us.

Sandra