Get this….Alcatraz was established as a prison in the early 20th Century. I think that now its fame spread far and wide…something most any city would want to have associated with it. But San Francisco? Nah….they might be turning it into a “global peace center”.Voters consider changing Alcatraz to peace centerThe person spearheading the effort is some person named "Da Vid"....don't quite know if that's the person's real name or not. But anyway, if you'd ever wanted to see the island prison, you might need to do it pretty soon before it's gone!
After the current incident caught on video tape of those cheerleaders beating up the other girl, I wonder if a visit to Alcatraz beforehand might have persuaded them to reconsider their actions? When I visited Alcatraz, getting there via ferry was as much an experience for me as the actual site. Putting aside my seasickness, Alcatraz was a scary place and I would tend to believe that any prison might put a different prospective on kids' thoughts towards crimes. I could be very wrong though…I am very perplexed by kids actions today.
I had the distinct pleasure of delivering plumbing material to PA prison SCI-Waymart, locally known as Farview. Its an old prison, and BITT (early 90's) you delivered the material into the prison ( no warehouse outside the barbed wire). Ditto the other supply deliveries (electrical, lumber,etc.. plus food and dairy deliveries). The truck and yourself were searched. And then you went in. Yay. Great. Surrounded by convicts. When you got to the delivery dock, a guard and the cons were there. I was told not to touch a thing, the cons would unload the truck. OK, fine with me. A con went over the material with me, to check it in. He knew all the fittings. I asked if he was a plumber, he said he used to work in a mill in Philly, so he knew all he pipe fittings. I did NOT ask what crime he was doing time for. I could not wait to get out of there. After the truck was unloaded, same deal, truck and person searched, back out you went.I was always thinking if the siren went off as the cons rioted, I was at best a hostage, at worst dead. But it was interesing, in a morbid sort of way.I always said if I went "wrong",and got caught ,I would go down in a blaze of glory before living the life of a prisoner.Sidenote...next door the SCI-Waymart the Feds built FBP-Caanan in the early 2000's. It looks like the Death Star's surface.I missed the public tour before it was "opened", and I wanted to see it. My job now is a desk and office job, but once in a while I will voulenteer to take a delivery, just to keep my big truck driving skills sharp, and to get out of the office. So we had a delivery to go there. So I took it.Big dissapointment, the Feds have a huge warehouse outside the barbed wire, so no getting to see the inside of the Death Star. And no prisoners on the loading dock. DIY applies. Damn those Feds. 😉
Hmmm…..so at the one prison you are almost fearful of being taken hostage or killed in a riot, but at the next you think it's a bummer because they've sealed off all the cons? ??? ??? 😮Actually I would be paranoid as well getting to closer to prisoners. While I'm sure there are people locked up who are safe to be near, I bet you just can't tell for sure. I don't envy those prison guards.