Previous blog here.  Referring to the misquote: "Things come and go so quickly here."  Well, it looks like 'Things' have come back 'round again.  (Or did they even leave in the first place?  Hmmmm.)

There was a hearing in Lansing, MI today about the possibility of housing the Gitmo detainees in the maximum security prison in mid-Michigan.  Standish Max is one of a dozen state prisons scheduled to close by the end of the year due to budget cuts.

One plan to keep the prison open and save local jobs is to take in the overflow of prisoners from California.  State guard/personnel positions will be retained.

Plan B is taking in the Gitmo detainees.  Plan B may eliminate the state jobs....guards and others will be on federal payrolls.  However, around 500 peripheral jobs will be created in the area.  Federal officials will be touring the area tomorrow to study its suitability.

Plan of last resort is shutdown and layoffs.

Photo of prison complex.

On a personal note, I drove through Standish today and if I'd remembered my camera, I would have posted a picture of all the signs in front of businesses there in SUPPORT of keeping the prison open via either plan.

Standish Max is a relatively new facility...less than 20 years old...and I remember the big NIMBY fuss there was before it was built.  But, in the ensuing years, there have been no escapes and people of the area obviously feel no threat being in proximity to the prison.

And keep in mind, in this particular area of the state, of the country, the unemployment rate is 17%.  Seventeen percent.  Retaining these jobs is a big farking deal around these here parts.