Pablo Pina D-Z8079 1/14/14
P.O. Box 7500 D-2 122#SHU
Crescent City. Calif. G5531

RE: SHU allowable property revised (post)

I just heard that they finally revised the SHU matrix property for Pelican Bay state prison. My neighbour is looking at it right now and he said it's going to allow us to finally get a lot of things we badly need back here. As soon as I get it I will tell you if its good or bad for inmates.

I read the new matrix and it does have a lot of changes. We can order a lot more of a variety of items. Before all we could order was junk food. Now they are expanding it so we can get more vitamins, although they don't want us to have certain vitamins and proteins that we need for those who are serious body building folks.

We can not have items that have sugar in them like jelly, honey and candy (hard candy). I think its much better than it was before. I don't agree with the restrictions on art materials. We still can't order colour pencils. And almost anything. Except what they sell in their prison and better quality paper and colours. Along with more access to pastel oils and soft pastels. Instead all they allowed us to have is 14 coloured ink pens. That's it. Then the vendors don't even sell fourteen colours to choose from. In the canteen they only sell four colours. That ruined it for me.

They weren't clear as to if we can purchase items that are in metal or aluminium containers or plastic bottles. And they will empty them for us. Before we couldn't order certain items because of that. If they agree to do that it would be much better for us. But these guards are not always willing to do any extra work like emptying stuff into cups or other types of containers. But we'll have to wait and see.