Prisons

MAYOR ADRIAN M. FENTY swept into office four years ago vowing to take on the District's most daunting problems. The city had made progress during the eight-year mayorship of Anthony A. Williams (D), but the public schools were still the worst in the nation, crime remained high and government struggled to deliver basic services. Mr. Fenty attacked these challenges with his trademark energy and an almost intimidating single-mindedness. He has delivered: The District of Columbia today is a better place to live and work than it was four years ago. It is for that reason that we enthusiastically endorse Mr. Fenty in the Democratic primary for mayor. He should have another four years to entrench the progress he has made.

Added Lasting effects of prison-based gerrymandering in Maryland to the Prisoners of the Census Blog.

Added Back and forth in the Buffalo News to the Prisoners of the Census Blog.

Added Blogosphere on Delaware's decision to end prison-based gerrymandering to the Prisoners of the Census Blog.

Added Progressive States Network hails Delaware victory to the Prisoners of the Census Blog.

Added Delaware Passes Law to Count Incarcerated Persons at their Home Addresses for Redistricting to the Prisoners of the Census Blog.

Added New York bill benefits upstate residents as well to the Prisoners of the Census Blog.

Added 13 New York State Senators who should be supporting an end to prison-based gerrymandering to the Prisoners of the Census Blog.

Added Newsweek covers prison-based gerrymandering to the Prisoners of the Census Blog.

Added Syracuse Post-Standard calls for end to prison-based gerrymandering to the Prisoners of the Census Blog.

Added WAMC's Legislative Gazette story on prison-based gerrymandering to the Prisoners of the Census Blog.

Peter Wagner is quoted in the Patriot Ledger regarding Mass.'s plan to bill prison inmates for room and board. Because most people in prison are poor, this counter-productive policy "is like spending money to squeeze blood from a stone."

Artist Paul Rucker's new installation, Proliferation, inspired by the map of U.S. Prison Proliferation, 1900-2000 by PPI's Rose Heyer was just reviewed in CityArts.

Added Most upstate counties with prisons agree: A prison cell is not a residence [PDF] to the New York organizing page.

We added links to recent radio interviews on WBAI, The Take Away and shows to our In the News page.

Matt Kelley cites PPI's research on sentencing enhancement zones in a post saluting New Jersey's first-in-the-nation reform of these short-sighted laws.

The Valley Advocate honors us on a best of 2009 list.

The Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network has twice featured our work on their blog in the last week or so. One article by George Pillsbury features our research on Mississippi, and another on our work behind the New York Times' Gerrymandering: Pure and Corrupt editorial.

Peter Wagner is quoted in Pennsylvania inmates prepare to ship out in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Pennsylvania's failed parole policies have led to an overcrowding crisis that states with better policies will be profiting from.

Joyce Russell reports for Iowa Public Radio on the end of prison-based gerrymandering in Anamosa, where the first election without a district that is almost entirely prisoners is taking place. Listen: m3u mp3. Peter Wagner is interviewed.