I have a question about public employee unions. I've read most of what you have written and want to hear more of your take on how guard union attitudes might change, or possibly what influences attitudes. I'm in Illinois, retired as a public employee (in a library) My local does not include guards but they are part of the state group - AFSCME. Illinois has a current House bill to allow prisoners who are 50 or older and have served at least 25 continuous years to petition for what amounts to re-sentencing. The bill has a lot of detail, including that the individual victims and families will be able to make a statement to the people doing the deciding about the petition. I don't think this bill will make it to vote this year; it is stuck in a rules committee, but that it has made it that far is a start.
Anyway, people involved are sure the guards will try to quash anything like this in the legislature. All I can do is to try to use my limited union connections to influence how the union as a whole reacts. Illinois is not California, but as far as I can tell there is a lot of similarity in the prison systems, and public attitudes. We have no death penalty, but LWOP is alive and well. The fact that House Bill 3668 exists is a bit of a miracle. I'd like to see it get more attention, and be put forward again if it does not come to vote this year.
Any thoughts you might have will be valuable to me as I try in a small way to influence thinking the my union.
My name is Nandi Crosby. I received a letter from you the other day and would like to reply to you...except I do not know what I did with the envelope that contains your return address. Please contact me again at Chico State. Thank you.
Julia, my understanding from talking to David is that he can't elaborate on certain things that occur inside the prison. If you don't hear anything about this, then this is probably one of those things.
And David, it was great to see you this week! I'm sorry we can't return before L.H. returns home, I was hoping to. But not coming also means that J & M can get 2 days of visits with you. I'll try to make it out later this year. Also, we didn't finish our discussion, but how and what can I do in terms of contacting Duckworth, the governor, help get your writing out, etc.? Write me or let J & M know when you see them. Take care, I'll write again soon.
Thank you for your reply. The Librado I know lived at San Antonio, Cavite City, Phil. He married Delia. Is she your mother? It's been decades now but I know Narcisso and Mike (deceased) and a sister. I also know that they settled at Long Beach. But, just as I said it's been ages since I last saw Diding and Narcing. Most of the Clemena has joined the U.S. navy. They lived just outside Sangley Point Naval Base. Can you tell me your birthplace. Is your uncle Narcisco still alive?
I would like to tell you more next time. If I find time, I will write you a letter. Meantime, keep up the spirit. Be healthy, be safe.
I finished the transcription of your response to Mat. I'm very much looking forward to when they give me your response to what I had written to you. Meanwhile, I'll keep transcribing for you in my free time. This letter to Mat was very eye-opening for me. I strongly oppose the death penalty except in the cases of serial killers. I feel that someone who has no intention of discontinuing their crimes is a major threat to society. However, those are rare and extreme cases. I feel that even if someone is not fit to live their life freely due to the threat they pose to society, that they still have something to offer. In some small way, their continued existence has potential to improve the lives of others. Your friend who was spared the death penalty is a perfect example. Criminals still have value, and I feel that they should still be respected as human beings! I really enjoy reading your insights, and I look forward to reading more from you:)
How are you.I thought i had exceptionally lost all contact reaching to you and i had been searching in vain on how to reach.It seems like my letters do not reach you or are delivered to you.If you can please send me your writing address again i would be really happy to have my brother in contact with me.There are not many memories and people i adore or share life with and since i have lost your contact,i have no friend whom i can tell everything and anything.Manjeet Bhaiya, send me your address , you missed nearly 4 years of communication with me.I have lots of things to tell you, so many turns and tiffs and i want my friend back so i can have someone to talk to.When dad was alive , it was a bit easier, i could discuss anything and everything with him, without thinking twice of what the reply would be,So send me you address.You tc and write on this for your writing address.I await your reply..very very impatiently.
About birds playing - yes they do. We were eating at a restaurant on the pier once - overlooking a small strip of sand. Although this was in Southern California, there were no humans out there - probably because there were other 'people-friendly' beaches close. Anyway - during the entire time we were there (at least an hour and a half) we watched a seagull play with a tennis ball. He would stand and drop it at the top of the slope, then run down and try to snatch it up before it hit the water. He'd then repeat the process. Everything in his body language bespoke 'fun' - he wasn't doing this to try to open the ball and eat the contents (like he thought it was a shellfish, or a nut) - he was playing a game. :)
Your spelling is absolutely fine and your meaning is always crystal clear.
I think the convention on the Between the Bars website is that Blog Posts are transcribed, but Comment Responses don't seem to be. You are therefore communicating with the website's visitors and readers on two different levels - one about the process of your trial and search for justice, and the other on a more personal level. I hope it helps other people to understand more about you and your situation.
RSS
Anyway, people involved are sure the guards will try to quash anything like this in the legislature. All I can do is to try to use my limited union connections to influence how the union as a whole reacts. Illinois is not California, but as far as I can tell there is a lot of similarity in the prison systems, and public attitudes. We have no death penalty, but LWOP is alive and well. The fact that House Bill 3668 exists is a bit of a miracle. I'd like to see it get more attention, and be put forward again if it does not come to vote this year.
Any thoughts you might have will be valuable to me as I try in a small way to influence thinking the my union.
My name is Nandi Crosby. I received a letter from you the other day and would like to reply to you...except I do not know what I did with the envelope that contains your return address. Please contact me again at Chico State. Thank you.
And David, it was great to see you this week! I'm sorry we can't return before L.H. returns home, I was hoping to. But not coming also means that J & M can get 2 days of visits with you. I'll try to make it out later this year. Also, we didn't finish our discussion, but how and what can I do in terms of contacting Duckworth, the governor, help get your writing out, etc.? Write me or let J & M know when you see them. Take care, I'll write again soon.
I have made some spelling mistakes as I had trouble reading some of your writing
Thank you for your reply.
The Librado I know lived at San Antonio, Cavite City, Phil.
He married Delia. Is she your mother?
It's been decades now but I know Narcisso and Mike (deceased)
and a sister.
I also know that they settled at Long Beach. But, just as I said it's
been ages since I last saw Diding and Narcing.
Most of the Clemena has joined the U.S. navy.
They lived just outside Sangley Point Naval Base.
Can you tell me your birthplace. Is your uncle Narcisco still alive?
I would like to tell you more next time. If I find time, I will write you
a letter.
Meantime, keep up the spirit.
Be healthy, be safe.
Filindia
This letter to Mat was very eye-opening for me. I strongly oppose the death penalty except in the cases of serial killers. I feel that someone who has no intention of discontinuing their crimes is a major threat to society. However, those are rare and extreme cases. I feel that even if someone is not fit to live their life freely due to the threat they pose to society, that they still have something to offer. In some small way, their continued existence has potential to improve the lives of others. Your friend who was spared the death penalty is a perfect example. Criminals still have value, and I feel that they should still be respected as human beings!
I really enjoy reading your insights, and I look forward to reading more from you:)
#thisgirlcares
How are you.I thought i had exceptionally lost all contact reaching to you and i had been searching in vain on how to reach.It seems like my letters do not reach you or are delivered to you.If you can please send me your writing address again i would be really happy to have my brother in contact with me.There are not many memories and people i adore or share life with and since i have lost your contact,i have no friend whom i can tell everything and anything.Manjeet Bhaiya, send me your address , you missed nearly 4 years of communication with me.I have lots of things to tell you, so many turns and tiffs and i want my friend back so i can have someone to talk to.When dad was alive , it was a bit easier, i could discuss anything and everything with him, without thinking twice of what the reply would be,So send me you address.You tc and write on this for your writing address.I await your reply..very very impatiently.
Tc
Prayers and Wishes
Sweety.
Anyway - during the entire time we were there (at least an hour and a half) we watched a seagull play with a tennis ball. He would stand and drop it at the top of the slope, then run down and try to snatch it up before it hit the water. He'd then repeat the process. Everything in his body language bespoke 'fun' - he wasn't doing this to try to open the ball and eat the contents (like he thought it was a shellfish, or a nut) - he was playing a game. :)
Your spelling is absolutely fine and your meaning is always crystal clear.
I think the convention on the Between the Bars website is that Blog Posts are transcribed, but Comment Responses don't seem to be. You are therefore communicating with the website's visitors and readers on two different levels - one about the process of your trial and search for justice, and the other on a more personal level. I hope it helps other people to understand more about you and your situation.
With kind regards
Lavender