Keep Point Mac farm open

Editors note: Kenneth Goldsbury is incarcerated at Point Mackenzie Honor Farm and sent this letter to the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman and Gov. Sean Parnell.

To the editor:

I am an inmate at what I call the “Point MacKenzie Honor Farm,” where agriculture is the theme and is regarded highly by many inmates who want to enter back into society as productive members.

Point MacKenzie provides food for Alaska’s institutions and shelters, housing the homeless and less fortunate in today’s economy.

I will be 59 come April, and near 60 when released. I do speak for many inmates. Being at Point MacKenzie Correctional Farm has relieved most stress that exists in medium and maximum facilities. One is able to begin to gather his thoughts in a less hostile environment and better prepare for a successful reentry into society as a productive member. Point MacKenzie is a benefit to inmates, their families and the rest of society.

To lose this would be a detriment, not only to inmates who cultivate and harvest food, but also to the hundreds and perhaps thousands who receive the food. There are many life skills taught here.

A cut in spending: a transport fee of one prisoner from one facility to another starts at $80 and goes upward per prisoner. It is common for a prisoner to be transported from a facility to Point MacKenzie with only five to 15 days left of his sentence. With older and knowledgeable crew chiefs, costs can be cut by inmates who care and are aware. Incentive is the key to caring.

We are asking that you please not close Point MacKenzie. We grow food. We believe all parties benefit and Point MacKenzie should not be on the governor’s list of expenses to cut.

I ask these things in the interest of most inmates, their families and the correctional officers whom we have come to know as fair, straight up and no-nonsense, which keeps this honor farm together and free of undue stress. And that is what we have come to respect.

Thank you, Governor Parnell.

Kenneth Goldsbury

Point Mackenzie Correctional Farm