After your first week on the job, what went well?
What I think went considerably well was the opportunity to go to a public hearing in City Hall about a bill that would give out free birth certificates to released prisoners serving at least 90 days in both city and state prisons. I got to hear the Department of Health’s argument which included loss of funds, lack of subsidized funding and loss in quality if it offered free birth certificates. I also got to hear testimonies in support of the bill by various prison advocacy organizations such as Phoenix House, I-CARE, The Fortune Society, clergymen and even the Brooklyn DA’s office/COM-ALERT, which even the City Council was surprised to see support the bill. While those opposing the bill put forth a logistical argument, those in favor of the bill appealed to the humanistic side of the bill. I also caught a glimpse at new legislation that would in effect lower the minimum standards in city jails, taking away things like private phone calls (it would allow staff to listen to the phone conversations of inmates), and even reducing the dormitory space, thereby housing more prisoners in less space.
What I think went considerably well was the opportunity to go to a public hearing in City Hall about a bill that would give out free birth certificates to released prisoners serving at least 90 days in both city and state prisons. I got to hear the Department of Health’s argument which included loss of funds, lack of subsidized funding and loss in quality if it offered free birth certificates. I also got to hear testimonies in support of the bill by various prison advocacy organizations such as Phoenix House, I-CARE, The Fortune Society, clergymen and even the Brooklyn DA’s office/COM-ALERT, which even the City Council was surprised to see support the bill. While those opposing the bill put forth a logistical argument, those in favor of the bill appealed to the humanistic side of the bill. I also caught a glimpse at new legislation that would in effect lower the minimum standards in city jails, taking away things like private phone calls (it would allow staff to listen to the phone conversations of inmates), and even reducing the dormitory space, thereby housing more prisoners in less space.
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