Pricey Phone Calls at S.C. County Jail; Is Expanding the Brooklyn Bridge Worth It?
Connecting state and local government leaders
Also in our State and Local Daily Digest: Iowa's 'moderate' cybersecurity risk; Vermont's 'geographic disparity'; and 'Clock Kid's' family suing Texas school district
LEXINGTON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA
INCARCERATION | A private company is imposing phone charges for inmates in the county jail here that are higher than those at a correctional facility in at least one other county and which a state lawmakers see as exorbitant. Securus Technologies, which runs the phone program in Lexington, has previously been accused of predatory pricing. The most expensive in-state call at the county jail is $3.95 for the first minute. “Really, you’re not punishing the inmates in this,” state Senate Majority Leader Sen. Shane Massey said Friday. “You’re punishing the inmates’ families, because all the money is coming from the outside.” [The State]
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
INFRASTRUCTURE | On a typical weekday, about 10,000 pedestrians and 3,500 cyclists cross the Brooklyn Bridge. After escalating complaints about congestion on the non-motorist part of the bridge, New York City transportation officials have said that efforts would be made to alleviate the traffic. Starting this month, a seven-month $370,000 engineering study will be carried out by a consulting firm to assess the various options for expansion. However, Polly Trottenberg, the city’s transportation commissioner cautioned that “every time we touch this 133-year-old bridge, it tends to be costly and complex.” [The New York Times]
DES MOINES, IOWA
CYBERSECURITY | A new, 36-page state cybersecurity plan emphasizes protecting critical infrastructure in the energy, transportation and communication sectors. Iowa Chief Information Officer Bob Von Wolffradt estimates the state’s risk level is “moderate” but is still pushing for increased training. “This thing is a rapidly changing environment,” said Gov. Terry Branstad. “This is an ongoing thing that we all need to work on.” [The Gazette]
RUTLAND, VERMONT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | Delayed business and infrastructure projects along with population declines are putting a drag on the local economy here, causing it to lag behind other parts of the state, according to some area leaders. With roughly 15,800 residents, Rutland is located about 60 miles south of Burlington. A BJ’s Wholesale Club has had its opening stymied for over three years by litigation and permit delays. A project to improve U.S. Route 7 is now in its 18th year. And expanded passenger rail service to Burlington still looks to be about four years away. “When you look at the job numbers since the Great Recession,” said state Sen. Kevin Mullin, a Republican, “Vermont appears to be doing extremely well. But for one of the few times in Vermont history there is a huge geographic disparity.” [VTDigger]
IRVING TEXAS
LAWSUIT | The family of Ahmed Mohamed, who was arrested one year ago for bringing a homemade clock to his class at MacArthur High School, is now suing the Texas school district, the principal of the high school and the city of Irving. The clock incident went viral last September when accusations of racial profiling even sparked a comment from President Obama via Twitter saying “We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It’s what makes America great.” [The Texas Tribune via The Washington Post]
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