I’m sure most of you heard about what went down in Oakland yesterday. Tens of thousands of people marching, chanting, and demanding that people and the planet must come before profit. A call to end corporate greed. A call to restore human dignity. A call for solidarity. A call for a revolution.
I… Read more
If California’s prisons are a reflection of how well we run our government and treat our people, we are in a heap of trouble. Earlier this summer, the United States Supreme Court ordered California to reduce its grossly overcrowded prisons by more than 30,000 people. Recent documents filed… Read more
CDCR officials recently announced that Southern Youth Reception and Clinic will be closing by January of 2012. Otherwise known as the Norwalk youth prison, it currently houses about 200 youth. Officials have estimated that closing they youth prison will save the state $44 million dollars a year. After Norwalk’s closure,… Read more
I wrote my first blog about Preston when I stepped inside its walls a couple of years ago. I had been there previously to meet with visiting families but that was the first time I was allowed to visit the units, witness the conditions, and speak with the… Read more
In honor of Earth Day, I found it interesting to reflect on 10 ways that my life is “greener” than it was 10 years ago.
1. I walk to work most days of the week. One of these days, I’ll ride my tricycle.
2. I reduce, reuse,… Read more
Birthdays are about celebrating people and wishing them the best in the next year. Today is Governor Jerry Brown’s 73rd birthday. As the country’s most senior governor currently, he is also known for his frugality. Besides the stuff you read in papers about how he’s cut staff, lives… Read more
The venerable University of California system was founded on March 23, 1868. As one of the top public university systems in the world, it boasts 10 campuses throughout the state and serves over 200,000 students annually. Faculty members come from all over the world as Nobel Laureates, Macarthur… Read more
Earlier this year, Governor Brown released a budget proposal that included closing California’s notoriously abusive Division of Juvenile Justice. Today, both the Assembly and Senate Budget Committees voted to approve most of the Governor’s budget proposal, including closing the DJJ and funding counties to treat youth instead. This… Read more
I remember learning about slavery and the civil war in elementary school. Back then, textbooks painted the picture of heroic Yankees fighting the evil and oppressive Confederates to free Black slaves. As an adult, I’ve since cursed the rather mechanical education system that taught me U.S. history. … Read more
On October 2nd, Books Not Bars met with the Interim Human Resources Director for Alameda County. Concerned family members, formerly incarcerated youth, and allies joined us to voice our desire for transparency in the process to hire a new Chief Probation Officer. George (not his real name) was one of… Read more
