CCA Robocall in Southwest Ranches (AUDIO)

By Stefan Kamph Thu., Nov. 3 2011 at 2:12 PM

Yesterday we reported that Pembroke Pines and Southwest Ranches were getting phone calls from the Corrections Corporation of America asking whether they support a proposed immigrant ~~jail~~ ~~detention center~~ "processing center" that Southwest Ranches is gunning to build on a plot of land near the Everglades.

People who picked up the phone were reportedly asked to press "1" if they supported the center, in which case they were automatically redirected to Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz's office (her spokesman said 40 to 50 calls arrived in this manner yesterday).

If people didn't answer, they got the following voice mail (audio after the jump):

CCA Robocall by BPBNewTimes

This was recorded on the iPhone of a Southwest Ranches resident who got the call yesterday.

Meanwhile, Kathy Bird of the Florida Immigrant Coalition notes that robocalls opposing the center, created by her group as well as local residents, resulted in 150 calls to Wasserman Schultz's office in recent weeks.

Jonathan Beeton, Wasserman Schultz's communications director, says that her office treats all calls from constituents with equal weight, whether they're forwarded from a robocall or telemarketing campaign or not.

Also, another curious note: The voice mail says that the "processing center" will bring $450,000 a year to Southwest Ranches, but a 2005 resolution said the "town fee" would be $600,000 and possibly more. Other estimates bandied about by officials have reached $1 million a year. Is CCA lowering expectations as well as drumming up support?

--

On a related note, it should be a pretty eventful meeting Saturday from 10 a.m. 1 p.m. at the Southwest Regional Library in Pembroke Pines, where the two municipalities are holding a meeting with ICE and CCA officials.

Check out the following two fliers, the first from Pembroke Pines and the second from Southwest Ranches (which has been lobbying for the facility), and see which local government would rather have you attend:

Stefan Kamph is a New Times staff writer.
The Pulp: Facebook | @thePulpBPB
Stefan Kamph: Story archive | Facebook | @stefankamph

Tags:

Corrections Corporation of America, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida Immigrant Coalition, ICE Detention Facility, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Kathy Bird, Robocalls, Southwest Ranches

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FQS9000

Illegal immigrants should not be deported or jailed before the 2012 elections. They will fur sure vote Democrat, cause the Democrats jus loves dem until they get done voting. Give them an absentee ballot and cut them lose. Screw them immigration and voting laws the KKK Republicans passed. Ballot fraud WORKS for Democrats.

Matthew Hendley

I'd also oppose the deportation of robots, as they've been historically recorded as heavy supporters of Ralph Nader. Give them a robotic ballot and cut them loose. Screw Will Smith and "I Robot," because metal and artificial intelligence WORKS for androids.

GhostOfMcLovin

I support this location for a immigrant processing center/prison/detention center/jail. It is industrially zoned adjacent to a maximum security prison and landfill, separated from residential areas by other industrial uses. Where would it be more appropriate in Broward County? Downtown on prime riverfront real estate? Oh yeah, there's a jail there too. Frankly, the City of Pembroke Pines could have prevented this from happening if, during their cherry picking annexations north of Sheridan Street, they annexed this subject site. NIMBYism at its worst, at the 11th hour.

Bill Di Scipio

Ghost,

I see that you have no issue with cones of silence and refusals to discuss the issue by elected officials. I see you have no issues with the impact on EMS and Fire. I see that you don't know what the upside or the downside is of this facility.

And I see you are the sort of fool who would let anything go in your backyard and that you somehow thing you are smart denigrating the sentiment of caring about your community.

Do you work for CCA?

Bill Di Scipio