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19 April 2001

No hockey arena? How about a tent city jail instead?

Sheriff Joe Arpaio is making the rounds on the local radio morning shows - Leibowitz yesterday, the John and Kim Arizona Sunrise show on KXAM, promoting his idea to turn the former Los Arcos mall site into a temporary "tent city" jail. Joe says that the location is ideal - right across the street from some nightclubs and pr0n shops - so the police won't have to travel very far to dump off drunk drivers and other miscreants after they've been arrested. Steve Ellman has offered to give the land to Arpaio.

Arpaio says that it is a great idea that would save taxpayers money and relieve jail overcrowding. Mary Manross, however, thinks it's a ridiculous plan and believes it just a vindictive move on the part of Ellman because of the failed negotiations over a new hockey arena for the Coyotes.

I didn't hear Sheriff Joe on Leibowitz yesterday, but I caught his interview with John Dayl and Kim Laurie this morning and I almost drove off the road when he said that he was responsible for pumping up tourism in the valley - and he discussed what a great tourist site the tent city jails make - past presidential candidates, foreign dignitaries, the national media all have descended down to Durango to see his marvel. Issues about looking at a bunch of tent jails on a busy street corner was brushed aside by Joe as he stated that the prisoners would erect and paint a big wooden wall to shield the public's view, and that only airplanes traveling overhead would be able to view the tents.

Only in Arizona ...