Community Alliance Newspaper
Letters to the Editor
December 2009 Letters:
It's been 4 months since I was placed in an isolation cell for
my journalistic activities in Solano State Prison, and as you know, whisked off
to an isolated prison in northern California; minus most of my personal property
including my typewriter.
It's been almost 60 days since my preliminary injunction hearing on my civil
lawsuit Woodard v. Haviland (Solano's warden) and some of his prison staff
cohorts. As you know, I have not been able to do the writing I'm used to. It's
extremely difficult/painful to handwrite at length after three surgeries on my
writing hand. A court ruling in my favor on the preliminary injunction will not
only order my transfer from Susanville State Prison back to a Bay Area prison,
it will also allow me to get my typewriter back that was illegally usurped by
State prison officials.
There are lots of things to write about since my transfer to Susanville. I have
experienced and/or witnessed numerous situations, violations and conditions that
will be written about. Whether I can write them soon or months from now, it will
happen. If I feel the need to, I will list the names of those rogue prison staff
as it is my right to do so. More importantly, it's the public's right to know
who those miscreants are. In a settlement agreement on my 1990s First Amendment
lawsuit, it was determined that I (as a prisoner) have a constitutionally
protected right to define my surroundings. I'm confident the court will
reiterate that on my current civil lawsuit in the Eastern District Court of
Appeals in Sacramento.
I sorely miss helping the Community Alliance with stories and first- hand
accounts about what really goes on behind these dark prison walls.
There have been a good number of people who have expressed their concern about
the dirty move Solano State Prison authorities pulled on me. I appreciate the
concern very much and want those folks to know that the only thing that has
(temporarily) changed is my location.
This experience has strengthened my resolve and has made me more aware of just
how important it is to report the inner-workings of this horribly corrupt,
overcrowded prison system; the California Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation (CDCR).
I'm doing OK considering the circumstances, and I hope to be back in a prison
closer to the Bay Area sometime soon. I'm looking forward to writing many more
prison-related articles for the Community Alliance and give folks the other side
of the story. I will be in touch.
Boston Woodard, B-88207
California Correctional Center, SF 74-10L
P.O. Box 2400
Susanville, CA 96127-2400
[Editors note: Boston Woodard, who is a writer for this newspaper, was put into
"The Hole" (solitary confinement) last summer
because of an article he wrote for us describing conditions in Solano State
Prison. When we publicized the retaliation against him and a lawsuit was filed
on his behalf, he was transferred to Susanville, a remote prison in northeastern
California. We demand that
authorities return his typewriter and transfer him back to Solano. If you would
like to help support Boston's right to Free Speech, please send your
contribution to the Community Alliance
newspaper, P.O. Box 5077, Fresno, CA 93755. Indicate in your letter that the
contribution is for Boston Woodard's legal
defense fund.]
***
Hooray! A great and timely article about Wahalish/Wahalich! (Jesse Morrow
Mountain). A lot of information to use and what to do to make use of it. Thank
you - Thank you - Thank you - Thank you.
Diane Marks
Bass Lake
***
What is your suggestion to keep sending $700 billion a year
overseas for oil to countries that do not like us very much. France is
approximately 90% nuclear. Open your eyes.
Mike Robinett
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Employed by the Saudi Aramco Oil Company
***
How wrong I was!
I just spent some time driving around west Fresno taking in Fruit, H, B and F
streets, Kearney Blvd. and, lo and behold, at California Street there is a major
construction project going on that has to do with soil reclamation. I could not
figure out whether bad dirt was turned into good soil or vice versa. For all I
know it is for another golf course or slaughterhouse. That was the sum total of
construction I met until I was well east over the freeway and nearing the
hospital, which seems to be the usual site of changes.
It is obvious that west Fresno is in excellent condition, as we all knew all
along. It is the north part of town that is a problem area. It is hard to travel
a major street without seeing stimulus money at work trying to straighten out
that part of town. I never realized what miserable shape the north is in and I
am so glad it is being rescued.
I was always dismayed that west Fresno is cut off from the city and easy freeway
access. Only a few streets run from west to east for access, unless of course
one wants to drive south out of town or west into the country. Now that I know
west Fresno is not a problem area and its residents are probably all living with
wonderful conditions, it is clear that west Fresno is cut off for its own good
as a protection from those in such sorry shape in the north of town.
I am sure the west Fresnans are thankful for the wonderful insight shown by the
City Fathers as well as Caltrans for their concern and protection from those of
the North.
Elly Orin
Fresno