The Whole World's Watching...

Okay, so it likely won't be a repeat of the 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention. Nonetheless, tonight's planned demonstration, by foes of the Glynn County Commission's plans to exand the jail in downtown Brunswick, should draw a good turnout. 

The event, which is being organized by Defend Downtown Brunswick, will take place at 5:30 pm on G Street at the old Glynn County Courthouse. An email from the group states that they "have the attention of regional media" and that they have made contact with local state legislators who, they claim, "are showing a renewed interest." The email further advises that "if the Glynn County Board of Commissioners does not concede to a change in the location of the jail expansion after this week, we will have a new strategy that we will announce to you next week."

I attended a recent meeting in which Defend Downtown Brunswick leaders raised a lot of pertinent questions. Among them, why did the County Commission reverse course after hiring (at great expense to the taxpayers) a consultant that recommended against expanding the downtown jail? Why did the Commission wait until Feb. 7, 2008 to pass a formal resolution in support of the jail, months after the decision was made and announced? Why was there no public discussion of the matter prior to the decision being made? Does the County Commission really know -- based on actual construction bids, etc -- how much the expansion is going to cost? 

These are but a very few of the questions that have been asked, and for which no good answers have been given. 

This harkens back to the Commission's decision to build a teen center on public park land on St. Simons Island a couple of years ago. It was a bad decision, made without public input. In response to what appeared to be a testosterone-fueled refusal by the Commissioners to reconsider, the citizens had to threaten legal action to force a change. The current challenge appears to be more of the same. One would think they would have learned the last time.  

Note that I have not said whether I am for or against expanding the jail in its current location. The Defend Downtown Brunswick folks have made a very compelling argument that deserves serious consideration. They also deserve support in their efforts. The whole world won't be watching and could probably care less. But it is important. 

Stay tuned.

JB