The Sacramento River is one of the north state’s greatest gifts. Photo by Doni Chamberlain
Editor’s note: A News Cafe received permission from Mike Michalak to publish his letter addressed to the Shasta County Board of Supervisors regarding a men’s detention facility proposed for construction near the Sacramento River. Michalak owns The Fly Shop in Redding.
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To the Board,
The purpose of my message is to encourage the Shasta County Board of Supervisors to reconsider their plans to locate the proposed Male Community Re-entry Program (MCRP), a multi-county detention facility, and “other unspecified items” on the City of Redding’s ninety-one acre riverside parcel downstream of Clear Creek’s Sacramento River nexus.
I encourage you to begin with a visit to the property. It’s a skinny, near mile-long, rectangular shaped parcel bordered by Eastside Road and Southern Pacific’s railroad tracks on one side. Haven Humane occupies about nine roadside acres on the eastern periphery and, at first glance, the property the property isn’t impressive. But when you cross the several hundred yards of wild, woodland habitat to the cottonwood and oak -lined bank of the Sacramento you’ll be faced with one of the area’s most stunning riverside views of both Shasta and Lassen – and you’ll realize why the riverside properties in the residential subdivision just the south are so valuable, and why that part of unincorporated Anderson is up in arms over your plans and has filed suit against Shasta County.
Of course, nobody wants to have an inmate re-entry facility, a 1,200-bed jail/prison, and whatever other incarceration facility the Sheriff can dream up as a next door neighbor. But it does beg the question asked by former Shasta County Supervisor Patrick Jones as to why the BOS, with other already-owned, less expensive, and more easily repurposed properties available, and with two floors of the current Shasta County jail closed due to lack of personnel and funding, has made this questionable decision?
There is little argument that the most valuable real estate entrusted to the care our City Fathers and Supervisors is adjacent to the river. I’m no realtor, but I can’t imagine that the “highest and best use” of this property then, is a “campus” for our criminal element. FYI, the nearest buildable lot downstream from the proposed jail site just sold for $1.4 million, and the nearest neighbor to this parcel on the other side of the river is Red Emerson. What then is the value of these 91+ acres of riverfront property, and what could the BOS and the City have been be thinking when dreamed up this scenario?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the Sheriff and the BOS envision the MRCP, an “alternative custody program” for probationary or paroled convicts, along with the possibility of a privately-operated, for-profit incarceration facility (managed by out-of-the-area prison professionals) for jailbirds from both Shasta (60%) and other surrounding counties (40%) on the Sheriff’s “campus” (what a euphemism!). Apparently, our Sheriff doesn’t think we have enough criminals in Shasta County.
The City of Redding is already struggling financially, and is in desperate need of increased sales tax revenue. City management complains they can’t attract qualified personnel, and instead of investing in grandiose incarceration facilities would be better advised to direct their efforts to strengthening the city’s economy and our image.
Ignore for a moment the negative impact this “campus” is going to have on nearby property values, the loss of tax revenues, and the reduced quality of life of those now living near the proposed project. Then consider what the overall effect this regional facility is going to have on the attractiveness of our community as a whole for future investment and development. Instead of reaching aspiring to become another Ashland, or another Bend, Redding can learn the lessons taught to Susanville when they became a prison town and realized that (upon their release) many of their inmates remained in the community.
Susanville residents also learned that, in order to be near their incarcerated loved ones, many families of the prisoners moved there, often faced economic hardships and often required public assistance, further straining local resources. And you have only to look to Susanville to learn about the general character of the families of inmates, what impact those families had, and how their, similarly-sized jail reflected on the quality of life and the character of the community.
I’ve spent nearly half of a century, my entire adult life, building the reputation of Redding as an outdoor destination and of the Sacramento River as a world-class fly fishery.
The Outfitters Division of The Fly Shop guides an average of 3,100 boats (6,200 clients) past that site every year. While ours is the largest regional fly fishing guide service, we’re not the only one, and I can’t help but wonder what the tens of thousands of people that have floated by that area in our drift boats are going to think about Redding, Shasta County, and the wisdom of wasting this precious resource on a streamside jail or other similar project.
In summation, 91+ acres of irreplaceable river frontage devoted to the incarceration aspect of a law enforcement is not a prudent use of property or our public resources. And building jail cells with a view isn’t the message that should be sent to prisoners, the public, or anyone interested in having a business in or becoming a future resident of our community.
This proposal does not solve existing problems—it creates new ones. Instead of addressing staffing shortages, economic needs, and community safety, it risks worsening them.
I respectfully request that the Board of Supervisors withdraw consideration of the River Ranch site for jail construction and, at least pursue a more suitable location. By doing so, the county will demonstrate its commitment to responsible governance, community well-being, and fiscal stewardship.
I appreciate your attention to these concerns and trust that you will act in the best interests of Shasta County residents.
Very sincerely,
Mike Michalak
Owner, The Fly Shop
Redding
