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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ORWC TO SPEAK AGAINST PROPOSED JAIL TAX
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TODAY, Redwood City, 9 AM - Occupy Redwood City (ORWC) will be sending representatives to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors meeting to speak out against a proposed resolution to put a half-cent sales tax increase for county residents on the November ballot.
Over $44 million of San Mateo County’s $80 million budget increase this year is earmarked for the new jail. As a group standing in solidarity with others who are opposed to a new jail in San Mateo County, ORWC is firmly opposed to a provision in the proposed ballot measure that would allow the Board to retain full discretion over where the projected $60 million in increased annual revenue will be spent. We stand against the proposed tax measure because we already know that the Board is looking to use this money fund the construction and operation of the new jail the majority of them have been pushing for despite recommendations from their own commissioned experts advising them to explore other options before embarking on such a costly project.
Roger Brina of ORWC points out, “If it wasn’t bad enough that our tax dollars will be used to fund incarceration, sales taxes are regressive taxes that disproportionately impact working-class families and low-income families of color. The Board of Supervisors is basically proposing that the communities disproportionately harmed by our county’s rush to incarcerate people be the same communities that bear the brunt of funding a new jail.
“Along with their harsh treatment of undocumented youth, the concerted push by those in power in San Mateo County to get this jail funded and built in the face of expert advice to explore other alternatives really underscores the racist and overzealous nature of our county’s enforcement priorities. Our dollars should be kept away from this system and spent instead on jobs, healthcare, green spaces and affordable housing.”
James Lee of ORWC adds, “Even if the board guaranteed on pain of impeachment that not one single cent of the anticipated tax revenue would not be spent on the new jail, the fact remains that the jail represents a huge debit in the county’s balance sheet that they are under pressure to make up for by cutting even more union jobs and extracting even more concessions from their remaining workers. It’s absurd that a new jail is even up for consideration at a time like this.”
Residents from throughout the county have been speaking out against the new jail since it was proposed, and ORWC is proud to have recently joined this broad coalition of local and statewide groups who have formally declared their opposition to the construction of a new jail in San Mateo County, including All of Us or None, Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB), and Occupy San Jose (OSJ).
ORWC calls on county government to stop ignoring expert opinions on how to safely reduce our jail population without building a new jail and is looking forward to speaking out at tomorrow’s board meeting. We invite all like-minded people to stand with us at the meeting and speak out against the funding of a new jail.
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On Bastille Day two weeks ago, ORWC came out and joined the fight against the new jail, speaking out at the new jail site with like-minded individuals and groups. Community members from throughout the county will also participate in a town hall in East Palo Alto on August 25 aimed at stopping the new jail. OSJ voted unanimously to join ORWC in opposing San Mateo County’s new jail at their July 30th General Assembly.
ORWC continues to rally every Friday at 5 PM at City Hall in Redwood City, with General Assemblies commencing at at 6 PM.