Important Statement from Matt Surrell

My name is Matt Surrell. I'm a resident of Marquette, but I was raised here in Newberry. It's my home town. My grandfather was one of the town's founders. My brother Jim, is a surgeon from Grand Rapids, who still does monthly clinics here, at Helen Newberry Joy Hospital. So I guess it's fair to say that our family has been a "stakeholder in this town since its founding in 1882.

Like you members of the Legislature, I too have worked in the public policy arena. I served as Press Secretary to U.S. Senator Robert P. Griffin in Washington, was a consultant to Governor Bill Milliken on two of his campaigns, and I have served on two advisory commissions for the State of Michigan.

The Newberry Correctional Facility houses men who have violated the laws of our society, and they are paying their debt to society by having their freedom taken away for a time.

They were sentenced by courts of law, and their sentences are being carried out, consistent with our system of justice.

Those of you who have voted to eliminated the Newberry Correctional Facility -- like the judges who meted out justice for the men in the NCF who were convicted of crimes -- are, in a sense, also judges.

You -- meaning those of you who voted to eliminate the Newberry Correctional Facility -- have dealt a "death sentence" to a community and a region.

And it is undeserved. The people of this community just a few years ago told the Michigan Department of Corrections that they no only would tolerate a Correctional Facility being established here, they would embrace and welcome it. In a very real sense, the people of this community "signed a contract" with the State of Michigan. And now, the State seems inclined to renege on the contract.

And from what I've heard, the Newberry Correctional Facility is an exceptionally well-run operation, with a high rate of prisoners earning their G.E.D. And as we know, the rate of recidivism goes down proportionately as the level of education and training a person receives goes up.

It is not to late to rescind this "injustice". . .this "death sentence," gentlemen. This community deserves better than "the back of the hand" of the Legislature after they have held up their end of the bargain, their end of the "contract."

Is there a way out of this dilemma...? Of course there is. Let me give you just one example -- and it does not involve raising taxes. Perhaps we need to "think outside the box". . .and outside the Department of Corrections budget.

The State of Michigan currently subsidizes private colleges to the tune of $58 million a year. It is done, I understand, through the device of providing grants to the students who have chosen to attend those private colleges.

I am at a loss to understand why precious State tax dollars are spent to help prop up private colleges and universities. Eliminating this unwarranted subsidy would free up a substantial amount of dollars.

I am not opposed to private schools. But if they choose to be private, then shouldn't they be prepared to navigate their way without need of State tax dollars...?

I ask you to rescind this ill-advised move to close one of the best-run Correctional Facilities in the State of Michigan -- the Newberry Correctional Facility.

Thank you for this opportunity to address you on this important matter.

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