Regular readers know that the Texas Legislature eliminated funding for three TYC youth prisons in the current budget, but left it up to the TYC board (one of its last substantive decisions before its merger with the Juvenile Probation Commission) which facilities should be shuttered. A mayor from one of the potentially affected communities informs me via email that "Today is the day the TYC Board meets and allows each community to make one final pitch to the entire Board (each community gets 5 minutes face time). And tomorrow at their Board meeting, they will make the decision."
One possible back door agenda item here may be a desire for more adult facilities. Warehousing adults is not as politically incorrect as doing that to kids.
ReplyDeleteSo free up a few beds for adult offenders and then when you run out of space for juveniles you can build new juvie lockups under the always popular, "do it for the children" cry!
Another TYC dog and pony show...they know what they are going to do! String these poor towns along like this last minute PR presentation will change some ones mind. In fact, I'll bet you CT has already met with Madden/marsha (they are different people arent they?)and Whitmires people to be told what and where to close. Not so much that she values their opinion but as a major suckup move to be the ED of the new agency.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it is a dog and pony show too. They just need to announce and move on. The employees are tired of waiting and need to know. I bet most of the TYC employees can tell you which facilities are closing so I don't understand all the hoopla attached to the decision. The local communities have never influenced the decision on whether to close a particular facility or not. Let's get it done and move on.
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate that people will be losing their jobs because of facility closures. The board has strung these communities along for months. They should have already announced which ones are closing instead of having all of those community meetings. They should know that all of these communities want the facilities to remain open. Duh
ReplyDeleteAs an employee of TYC I pray that the right decisions will be made tomorrow. I hope the announcement comes quickly, and directions are given on what we need to do. As an employee we have waited long enough, each facility has room to improve. May God direct the decisions tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteWho Do you think will close,and what time will the people know what's going on?
ReplyDeleteTYC Needs to get a new leader Townsend is aJoke after everyone it TYC was doing double work Her friends were getting large raises...Kinda reminds me of old Demitra lol,,,just say what is going to close so the people affected can take action and get rid of this weak board they cant make a decesion if their life depended on it..lol
ReplyDeleteWill someone please post here tomorrow ASAP! Please!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, each community had five an opportiunity (five minutes) to make one last pitch to the entire TYC Board this afternoon (no one spoke on behalf of Al Price, Mart or Evins and BTW, Commissioner Olvera was absent). Tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. the TYC Board reconvenes and will make the decision. Chairman Fisher said it will likely be 2:00-3:00 in the afternoon before the decision is made and everyone is notified (a 5-6 hour Board meeting?). Whatever is going to be decided, they are keeping it very close to the best. Good luck to all the communities-someone loses either way.
ReplyDeleteTownsend needs to go back to Arizona and take her Toysha friend General Council with her. And that so called "chief of staff" that appears to eat lemons daily? None of them made much of an effort to save you guys. I was there and observed it all. They were a totally weak administration IMO. Well I guess it’s no longer an opinion when the reality sets in huh?
ReplyDeleteI saw this one coming a year ago thus I bailed on their asses and weakness.... and by all means trust me when I say you will move on successfully, and laugh about it all in the end.
My best wishes,
Tommy Bayes
This whole scenario reminds me of an old rock star, sometime they stay little too long because they adore the attention. In reality their time has passed on and they should just quit stringing this out. Your 15 minutes of fame was over a long time ago, peoples lives are at stake, but you just cannot leave the lime-light. This is what TYC has become, glad I'm leaving soon myself, rule of 80 sounds so sweet.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I see, the TYC board as well as Townsend and her crew don't know what's going on at the facilities.
ReplyDelete"From what I see, the TYC board as well as Townsend and her crew don't know what's going on at the facilities."
ReplyDeleteWell, you got that right. And, I get the impression they don't really care.
I saw the town meeting Al Price had in Beaumont the first round. The local politicians, support groups, churches, law enforcement, etc put on an impressive presentation of community support. Not to mention, they reminded Townsend & Co, that the land Al Price sits on was DONATED by the locals to build a facility there. Also, TYC's star principal, highly-praised diagnostician, and other key players are located at Al Price. I don't know what else five extra minutes yesterday could have bought them.
And the nasty jaded comments never cease. If TYC would have made a quick decision to shut down facilites all of you would be OUTRAGED that more thought wasn't put into it, that folks weren't given a chance to fight for their facility, etc. The fact that they are taking their time is obviously nerve wracking, but I suspect that no matter what, most of you would not be satisfied. I can't imagine that this is easy for Townsend or anyone else making these difficult decisions.
ReplyDeleteI wonder about an open records request to find out when the decision was really made.
ReplyDeleteHam2mtr
Tommy, you were a big part of the demise of TYC. Stay hidden. Don't place your faults on those remaining in the mud. You were and are a loser.
ReplyDeleteI truly feel bad for the employees. I suppose there will be no openings anywhere for them within the remaining facilities. How could there be?
ReplyDeleteWith all the dirt being hurled around about TYC, it is truly sad that there none would stand up for what was right in Townsend's administration or management. It will all be dirt swept under the carpet. No telling what will be found when the merger takes place and the house is cleaned. If that happens. It seems all state agencies have a degree of dirt and coruption woven into their fabric. Politics is just dirty, bottom line.
Anybody heard anything yet or have any opinions as to who will be on the chopping block?
ReplyDeleteBrownwoodbulletin.com says Crockett, Beaumont, and Ron Jackson Unit 2 will close. Very sad for Crockett as that was a major employer in the area.
ReplyDeleteI can believe Crockett would go, but Ron Jackson 2 and Al Price? Well, it's living proof that state agencies aren't driven by the sharpest pencils in the box.
ReplyDeleteIf both Crockett and Al Price close, what facility near to Houston will serve the Harris County crowd? Giddings?
ReplyDeleteWe should have the real answer very soon.
It is now official: Al Price will be closing!
ReplyDeleteFor all of the comments that everyone will post, I just want to say that I am happy that Al Price is closing. There is so many inappropriate relationships going on there between staff members that it is not good for the youth who are being served. Or for the spouses that are being violated by cheating spouses at Al Price. On a personal note.
ReplyDeleteWhen leaving Al Price, please be sure to take the decades of contraband with you. All marijuana should be loaded at the back gate, and all cocaine will be loaded at the front gate. Sayonara!
ReplyDeleteAl Price produced an inbred culture that only TYC manages. The place is a gothic tale of deception, guilty secrets and violated boundaries.
ReplyDeleteI agree Annonymous, "Al Price produced an inbred culture that only TYC manages. The place is a gothic tale of deception, guilty secrets and violated boundaries."
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing is that TYC central office did nothing to investigate or to prevent the violations that have occured, or the lives that have been destroyed.
Do I look Hidden? I at least post who I am and not a chicken shit behind a "tag" of Anonymous like yourself. So open that that door, and we'll see...
ReplyDeleteTommy Bayes
Tommy Bayes, you say, "I saw this one coming a year ago thus I bailed on their asses and weakness." Bullcrap! You were fired and you know it. That's why you're so bitter.
ReplyDeleteTommy, lots of people know the real truth, so stop your TYC - style lies. Crawl back in your snake hole. The system is better with your asbence.
ReplyDeleteWho supervised tommy when he was at TYC? Didn't they know what he was like? Or was it one of those famous TYC coverups?
ReplyDeleteLydia B, the snake "harrison',his buddy D.harris, snake-brookins and hernandez, all were just like t.bates, and covered the sex abuses at TYC. All should have gone to the pen for many years. The top folks covered for them and still do. Many youth were abused by these perverts.Many employees were abused by these perverts.
ReplyDeleteIf you think all this started with D. Harris, think again! It started with the "good ole boy system" and I think that goes back about twenty years...and who was in charge then? Ron Jackson? George Bush? They ignored and covered up first. It was like a learned behavior they passed on. Not trying to make excuses for anyone, but if you're going to lay blame, then lay it all the way. For those of you on the outside looking in, it appears easy for you to cast stones....must be nice. Hopefully what you do for a living does not have any impact on anyone, in any way. Bet your a christian too, huh???
ReplyDelete