Draper Prison to move or not to move

Representatives and Senators, [PRC members]

re: the Draper Prison, Uinta Five Reception and Orientation building along with the Oquirrh Five Annex and almost all of Wasatch.

Based on information provided to me by constituents in my area that work at the Draper Prison, I believe at minimum, the listed Draper buildings need to be replaced. They could be replaced on site, as there seems to be enough room to double or triple the number of beds at Draper, or possibly targeted to be replaced off site, at a new prison location, such as near the Wal-Mart Distribution Center near Stansbury Mountain, in Tooele County. Based on the report, there is enough room for Gunnison to match Draper in beds as it is currently. An alternate or 3rd site is not required.

I was wondering if we have a specific cost for constructing each of these 3 complexes and if the Draper Prison can function in place without any or all of these 3 buildings. Clearly, the buildings can be built on site and then these specific existing buildings can be demolished.

It is the opinion of many that the majority of the buildings at the Draper Prison, other than these, can function for many years, if not decades.

Any new cell complex should at least have the safety of layout of the 192 bed pods at Gunnison. From an aerial photo, it appears a large percentage of the beds at Draper are in the pod or super pod type layout with the central control station.

I have stood in Wasatch, in one of the active cell block common areas with my wife. I don't like that layout. We spent two years as volunteers at the Draper Prison. It was interesting to use the non-denominational chapel that I had worked on the drawings for many years ago.

While it has been many years since I worked on construction drawings for jails and prisons, I helped with the construction drawings for a Salt Lake County Jail expansion/remodel down town (later demolished), Oxbow, Gunnison, and using the 192 bed pod system, perhaps a dozen potential 1920 bed complexes around the country. At one point, I perhaps had drawn more parking spaces and jail/prison cells than anyone I knew in the State.

Based on the information I have now, I [still] would not have voted to move the prison when [others] voted on [it] last year. I realize Draper City is tired of having the prison and the property around it is getting worth more and so the State may want to move it sometime in the next few decades.

What I said in February 2014: 
http://fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2014/02/do-not-move-prison.html

Since the timeline for moving has not be agreed to by the legislature, finding out from the Prison or your consultant the cost of replacing only the 3 complexes mentioned would be helpful for direction and discussion. 

For many years, anyone moving near the Draper Prison has known it was there. It would be wise if the prison is to be moved, for residents to have many years to know it is moving and where it is moving to, long before it does.

Fred C. Cox,
Rep. Elect, House 30
West Valley City, UT 84120

PS, based on me being at the West Jordan school where they had as many as 2,500 people show up opposed to the prison moving near there, and other similar reports, I don't believe any of the current 6 sites will work.

They may be close for employees, visitors, volunteers, schools, courts, and medical, but the Draper location has those already. Those items are more important than the cost of the land in Draper, as the people involved are worth more than the buildings and the land. Again, the majority of the buildings at Draper are fine, with no rush to replace. We do need to target replacing particularly the Wasatch block cells for prison officer and inmate safety, in my opinion.

Not the other Fred Cox

Not the other Fred Cox.

My name is Fred C. Cox, and I am running for the Utah House of Representatives District 30. A photo of me is here:

http://www.fredcox4utah.com/2012capitolstairs9a.jpg

When I was very young, some of my friends used to joke that I was the Fred Cox that played for the NFL football team, the Minnesota Vikings, as their field goal kicker. He played for them from about the time I was two years old to when I was in high school. A photo of him (taken many years ago) is here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Cox#mediaviewer/File:Fred_Cox.png

That Fred Cox scored lots of points for his team (1,365).

That Fred Cox is not running this year for State House District 30.

Neither is our current junior US Senator.

Almost everyone I have talked to understands that. The purpose of this email is to have you remind a few of your friends or relatives before Tuesday. They may like our US Senator or they may not like him. This Tuesday, he is not on the ballot.

I was never really good at football. In high school I was on the track team for running the two mile and on the cross country team. I wasn't really fast, but I could pace myself to finish. I also represented the school in chess, sang in choirs, and played table tennis.

In 2011 and 2012 I had more than 1300 floor votes on bills as a member of the Utah House of Representatives. That doesn't include votes in committees. (if you combine both years, I missed the fewest floor votes of any legislator of both parties and both houses). I was in the Senate Chambers during those 5 out of 1302 votes. There were also special legislative sessions, and I didn't miss any of those floor votes.

I read through each and every bill I had to vote on. I don't look at bills as republican or democrat sponsored bills. I vote on bills based on what the bill says and would do, and I have spoken against bills and spoken for bills based on the bill and not the sponsor or party. I will look for win-win solutions. A bill has to improve things, however small the steps, or it should not pass.

That is a record that I am proud of. I also had many Town Hall meetings. I was able to take bills that voters in our area wanted run and have them pass both houses and be signed into law by the Governor. I stood up against a tax increase on food and against the state government taking away our rights.

For those that have not already voted, I ask for your vote. For those with vote by mail ballots, they have to be postmarked by Monday, November 3rd, or be hand delivered to a voting location.

Fred C. Cox for State House District 30

http://www.fredcox4utah.com/

Education Excellence, Clean Air and Water, Your Rights, and a Stable and Growing Economy

PS. I did not invent the Nerf Football.

 
Town Hall Meetings at West Valley Library 2880 West 3650 South West Valley City, Utah
Tue. October 7, 2014, 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Sat. October 11, 2014, 1:00pm to 2:00pm

Meet the Candidates Nights (PTA Sponsored)
Thu. October 2, 2014, 6:00:pm to 8:30pm Matheson Jr. High 3650 Montclair St, Magna, UT
Wed. Ocbober 8, 2014, 6:30pm to 8:30pm Hunter High School 4200 S 5600 W, West Valley City, UT
Thu. October 9, 2014, 6:00pm to 8:30pm Granger High School  3580 S 3600 W, West Valley City, UT

Town Hall Meetings at Hunter Library 4740 West 4100 South West Valley City, Utah
Wed. October 22, 2014, 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Sat. November 1, 2014, 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Fred Cox for Utah House 30 Endorsements Update

The most important endorsements in this race 
are the voters in House District 30.


2014 Endorsements for Fred Cox, running for the Utah House of Representatives
(partial list, check back for updates)

Ron Bigelow,  former member of the Utah House of Representatives, 1995 through 2010

Gary R. Herbert, Governor of Utah
"I support former representative Fred Cox in his election for State House District 30. Fred is someone who has shown he will stand up for the principles of limited government and efficient use of taxpayer dollars."

Becky Lockhart, Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives
“Fred Cox is a man of courage. He stands up for what he believes is right for the people of his district.”

Wayne Niederhauser, Utah Senate President
Jonathan Johnson, Holladay, UT

Jim Bennett,  Bob Bennett 2010 U.S. Senate Campaign
"I met Fred Cox when he was helping other candidates running for office, including one running against my father. I found Fred to be hardworking and fair. While some in politics leave you feeling you don't want to see them again, Fred was willing to be my friend, even though we were helping candidates running against each other. When I found a national blog article that unfairly blamed my father for something another senator had done, and I found I couldn't immediately post a correction, I called Fred. Fred made sure that a correction was posted, even though that wouldn't help his candidate. We need civility in government and officials that care more about finding solutions for constituents than partisan bickering. With that, I endorse Fred Cox for State House of Representatives."

Cherilyn Eagar, Candidate U.S. Senate 2010, U.S. Congress 2012
Tim Bridgewater, Candidate U.S. Senate 2010

Bennion Spencer, Candidate for U.S. Congress 2008 "A Republican I could work with".

Dave Hansen, former Utah Republican State Party Chair

Steve Vincent, West Valley City, UT
Tom Huynh, West Valley City, UT

Phil Conder, West Valley City, UT
Jeffrey C. White, West Valley City, UT

Richard Snelgrove, Salt Lake County, UT

Carbon Lundgren, West Valley City, UT

Kent and Carma Nay, West Valley City, UT
Skylar Burnside, West Valley City, UT
Michael A. Branan, West Valley City, UT
Troy Council, West Valley City, UT
Robert Christensen, West Valley City, UT
Arnold Schaer, West Valley City, UT
David Beck, West Valley City, UT
William and Gretchen Blunt, West Valley City, UT

Nephi Robinson, Magna, UT

Kelly Allen, former PTSA Junior High School President, West Valley City, UT
Kathy Hall, West Valley City, UT

Helen H. Redd, Holladay, UT
James Humphreys, Weber County, UT
Sinama Meli, 2010, 2012 Candidate for Utah House of Representatives
Thomas W. Clay, 2013 Candidate for Utah Republican Party Secretary
The Salt Lake County Republican Assembly

National Federation of Independent Business, NFIB/Utah SAFE Trust

Utah State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police

National Rifle Association - Political Victory Fund, (NRA)

2014 NRA Endorsement for House District 30

Political Victory Fund
National Rifle Association of America
Institute for Legislative Action
555 Capitol Mall, Suite 625
Sacramento, California 95814

 State and Local Affairs Division
Brian Judy, Utah State Liaison

September 24, 2014

Fred Cox
4466 Early Duke Street
West Valley City, Utah 84120

Dear Mr. Cox

Congratulations!  You have been endorsed by the National Rifle Association - Political Victory Fund for the General elections in 2014. Your strong support for the Second Amendment and the working knowledge of the issues surrounding this most important debate are greatly appreciated.

On behalf of the NRA members in your district, please accept my best wishes for success on November 4th!

Please feel free to contact me if I can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

Brian Judy
Utah State Liaison

http://www.fredcox4utah.com/NRApvfHouse30.pdf

The Debate for State House District 30

Listen to it here:
http://kcpw.org/blog/debates/2014-09-24/9232014-utah-house-district-30/

Utah State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police Endorsement

Utah State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police has endorsed  Fred Cox for Utah State House District 30

September 5, 2014

"FOP is pleased to inform you,  through a vote of the trustees of FOP,  you have earned FOP’s endorsement. Please feel free to use this endorsement on brochures, advertisements, etc."

"If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or President Brent Jex."

"Thank you."

Kelly C. Atkinson, Executive Director

Utah and Common Core

A recent well published poll on Common Core  doesn't point out the Federal involvement. The Federal "Race to the Top" funding competition in 2009 provided little time for the states to adopt Common Core, so almost no legislatures were involved in the adoption nationally. With the National Governors Association behind it, I am not surprised it was signed in the approx. 2 months the states were given initially. The poll also doesn't talk about the Federal Government strings with the NCLB (No Child Left Behind) waivers.

The State Constitution reads: "The general control and supervision of the public education system shall be vested in a State Board of Education. ". Our State Board just voted for the NCLB waiver.

I don't mind having access to a national grassroots standard, as long as we have the flexibility to amend/modify/add/delete anything to make it better. With the Federal Strings tied to Common Core through the NCLB , it limits what we can change, which is one of the major problems. Also, teachers are saying the local school boards are using "Common Core" to tell teachers what to teach and when. 

Math teachers I have talked to believe the standard will do 2 things, help ACT scores rise and decrease the number of students taking remedial math when they reach college.

Many do not like the "no text books" and want other options.

There are those that would have taken 8th grade Algebra that would take Calculus their senior year that should not have to waste their 8th grade and could move faster and those that are not understanding the concepts, and may not understand, that have traditionally been taught by rote.

The standard, is a one size fits all approach, which will only work with the middle students. 

The schools have spent the last few years gearing up for this, and changing or discarding their books, etc. Whatever the Utah Legislature does re: Common Core, based on that, and based on the State Constitution, has to be measured. 

 Is Common Core a "national grassroots standard"? Is it really just "voluntary standards the Utah State Board of Education has adopted, first put forward by state governors and education experts"? Those statements hardly tell the whole truth.

Besides the National Governor's Association, with their Corporate Fellows, who are the "education experts" behind Common Core, and why did the Federal Government want to set a hook to get the States to adopt Common Core with Utah biting and being reeled in, hook, line and sinker?

Common Core State Standards are hosted and maintained by the Council of Chief State School Officers  (CCSSO) and the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices  (NGA Center).

As an architect, I have dealt with grassroots national standards and have done so for 35 years, including before I was an architect. There are 350 ICC chapters around the country and also in other countries. Members include building officials, architects and others. The ICC is truly grassroots. Utah also has a Building Code Commission that proposes amendments to the model codes for Utah. The Legislature adopts the code and the amendments.

Based on the information I have from them, I do not believe the NGA Center or the CCSSO are really "grassroots". 

Was Common Core created by the Federal Government? No, however the Federal Government has provided financial incentives to adopt it (which we didn't get) and the NCLB waiver, which we are taking. I see a very large hook on the end of that line. If you don't believe it, look at Oklahoma.

[Update. This article  shows that the current State School Board is aware of the Federal hook associated with both Common Core and NCLB, and are trying to protect Utah as much as they think they can. We will see if we are still firmly hooked or not in the near future.]

[Update 2. When I took 8th grade Algebra, the class was "too big". It was split and I had the "new" teacher that had never taught math before and had majored in English. In 7th grade, I had wanted to be a math teacher. In 8th grade I didn't want to be a math teacher anymore. It took years for me to fully understand some of the math concepts I should have understood in 8th grade. I believe, in that case, splitting the class hurt my education and providing someone else, perhaps the same teacher, to help would have been better. Great teachers are important. Class size isn't the answer to everything..

The 8th grade Algebra that I took would have allowed me to take Calculus my senior year, providing it was offered enough times for it to fit in my schedule with English and Choir. In my case it was faced with dropping one of those classes to fit in Calculus. Not having Calculus in high school hurt understanding both required math and physics classes for computer science and architecture at the University of Utah. ]