Both the Governor and Angelides say they’ll address record over-crowding by building more prisons. The Treasurer says he’ll also open two old moth-balled prisons….while Schwarzenegger wants to build facilities to house low-risk female inmates and prisoners about to be released. Last month, the Governor called a special session of the state legislature to deal with the prison crisis:
“I inherited this problem, but I do not, for a minute shy away from solving it.”
But Angelides blames the problems on Shchwarzenegger – showing this is a campaign issue:
“He is very much like the CEO that has driven a company into bankruptcy and is now desperately trying to extend his own contract of employment.”
Angelides says if elected he would declare a state of emergency for prisons immediately. A Schwarzenegger campaign spokesman says Angelides’ prison plan is just an “empty partisan echo.” The legislature will take up the prison issue in August.