Make Alcatraz a Prison Again?
Let's keep it managed under the NPS.
Yesterday, President Trump “truthed” his intention to bring Alcatraz Prison back to life.
He said, “REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ! For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. No longer will we tolerate these Serial Offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets. That is why, today, I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ, to house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders. We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges that are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals, who came into our Country illegally. The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Alcatraz - aka “The Rock” - was permanently closed on March 21, 1963. At the height of its operation, it housed notorious criminals like Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said “36 men tried 14 separate escapes. Nearly all were caught or didn’t survive the attempt.”
The FBI added of its closure:
On March 21, 1963, USP Alcatraz closed after 29 years of operation…An estimated $3-5 million was needed just for restoration and maintenance work to keep the prison open. That figure did not include daily operating costs - Alcatraz was nearly three times more expensive to operate than any other Federal prison (in 1959 the daily per capita cost at Alcatraz was $10.10 compared with $3.00 at USP Atlanta). The major expense was caused by the physical isolation of the island - the exact reason islands have been used as prisons throughout history. This isolation meant that everything (food, supplies, water, fuel...) had to be brought to Alcatraz by boat. For example, the island had no source of fresh water, so nearly one million gallons of water had to be barged to the island each week. The Federal Government found that it was more cost-effective to build a new institution than to keep Alcatraz open.
There’s an “Alcatraz of the Rockies” called ADX Florence that serves as a modern-day equivalent, minus the treacherous waters. From Reason Magazine:
The BOP already operates ADX Florence, a supermax prison in Colorado. It holds the federal prison system's most serious and violent offenders—terrorists, spies, murderers, cartel bosses—in solitary cells for 23 hours a day. In fact, it's called "the Alcatraz of the Rockies." No one has ever escaped.
In 1972, Congress created the Golden Gate National Recreation Area that would eventually encompass the present-day Alcatraz Island National Historic Landmark District. It’s one of 430 properties managed by the National Park Service (NPS) - of which 63 are actual National Parks.
1.6 million visitors visit to Alcatraz Island annually, with tourism generating about $60 million in revenue.
I even boated near it, with the Blue & Gold Fleet, during my first visit to San Francisco in the late 1990’s. But more recently, I spotted it from a distance during a 2023 S.F. visit.
I drove over the Golden Gate Bridge back in March of this year, but didn’t see the former prison. I had to keep my eyes on the road.
Since there’s a National Park Service tie-in, I discussed the pros and cons of rehabilitating Alcatraz on my podcast today.
Verdict: I believe the NPS should maintain sole control of the property.
There are plenty of high-security maximum prison across the country to place violent criminals. Why not utilize those facilities for deportations?
What do you think? Reopen Alcatraz as a prison, or leave it as a museum? Tell me below!
So Trump like Escobar is renovating his retirement home?