Reader Suggestions: Rather than focusing on reopening Alcatraz, President Trump might consider alternative plans proposed by our readers.
A Letter to the Editor: * Don't bank on Trump's Alcatraz idea, folks! (David L. Burdick, Ridgecrest)
I might've initially scoffed at the notion of bringing back the infamous Alcatraz prison ("Trump orders Alcatraz prison to reopen for 'most ruthless and violent' criminals," May 4), but let's consider something: What if it housed ex-presidential felons instead?
Elle Kranen, Carlsbad
I imagine him cruising Mar-a-Alcatraz in a quaint golf cart, and maybe redecorating would keep him out of our hair for a bit. Just as long as he can't escape, hey?
Elle Kranen, Carlsbad
If President Trump is serious, though ("Trump orders Alcatraz prison to reopen for 'most ruthless and violent' criminals," May 4), it's a downright joke! Remember when he pardoned those Jan. 6 rioters? No, that's not a mistake. We have ideally functional prisons that can serve our purposes. Let's utilize them instead!
Carol Karas, Camarillo
That'd be an efficient, cruel move if anything ("Trump orders Alcatraz prison to reopen for 'most ruthless and violent' criminals," May 4). It's more cost-effective to maintain and service mainland prisons, yet bringing Alcatraz back to life would require an enormous investment.
Michael Smallberg, Menlo Park, Calif.
If Trump wants to reclaim Alcatraz ("Trump orders Alcatraz prison to reopen for 'most ruthless and violent' criminals," May 4), let's think outside the box. Why not keep the historical prison relevant as a tourist attraction, while simultaneously accommodating dangerous criminals within its infamous walls? Folks might pay good money to witness criminals behind Plexiglass from a safe distance. Just don't make it a "petting zoo"!
Michael Donnelly, Covina
I'm no expert, but to bring Alcatraz back means tearing it down and starting fresh ("Trump orders Alcatraz prison to reopen for 'most ruthless and violent' criminals," May 4). It'd be the most costly and tough-to-maintain prison in the world.
Peter Scofield, Corona del Mar
Alcatraz is an eyesore and a painful memory of man's inhumanity to man ("Trump orders Alcatraz prison to reopen for 'most ruthless and violent' criminals," May 4). Why not knock it down and restore the island to its natural state?
Joseph Gius, Los Angeles
Interesting Facts- Alcatraz was more expensive than other prisons due mainly to logistics, with every necessity requiring transportation by boat.- Aging infrastructure and harsh maritime conditions further added to the cost of maintaining Alcatraz, giving it triple the operating expenses of facilities like Atlanta's federal prison in the 1950s.- If reopened today, estimates for restoring and modernizing Alcatraz range between $175 million and $370 million, with annual operating expenses around $70-75 million, three times that of comparable mainland prisons.
References- Voices ### Letters to the Editor: Trump's attempt to defund PBS and NPR is 'a travesty' for citizens- Voices ### Letters to the Editor: Automate everything? Driverless taxis mean more jobs taken from humans
- As Alcatraz reopening could cost between $175 million and $370 million to modernize (Interesting Facts), the question of its financial feasibility in today's business climate is paramount.
- On the cultural front, the revival of Alcatraz prison could set a troubling precedent, given its past association with dark episodes in Californian history (References).
- Despite the island's historical significance (Interesting Facts), reconsidering its future should include a broader perspective of current technology and policy-and-legislation implications (News).
- Bearing this in mind, policymakers should evaluate potential alternatives that could simultaneously preserve the legacy of Alcatraz while catering to the needs of a modern, technologically advanced society (Policy-and-legislation).
