Trump Plans To Reopen Alcatraz as a Prison
The Associated Press has reported that the president has directed “his government” to reopen Alcatraz. We’re not sure why they call it “his” government and not “our” government, but either way, it could be that we’re all sailing around a future federal prison.
Alcatraz was closed in 1963 and is now a major Bay Area tourist attraction that reportedly generates $60 million for the National Park Service from the 1.6 million tourists that visit the island annually. Instead of dodging tourist ferries as we sail up the “cone of Alcatraz” we would be dodging prisoners and prison personnel on their way to work.
It is hard to imagine that DOGE would consider this an efficient proposal versus the many less-costly prison-building options there must be. Beyond the cost of remodeling and maintaining a prison on the island, turning the island from a cash-generating business for the government and the region and turning it into a federal government expense is surely a bad idea.
This would be a loss of local tourist revenue in addition to the general projected loss of tourism revenue following Trump’s tariffs and changes to immigration policies. Nancy Pelosi wrote on X, “It is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction. The President’s proposal is not a serious one.”
By turning the island back into a prison the Federal Bureau of Prisons would spend colossal sums of our tax dollars rebuilding and maintaining the prison so plenty of money would flow to the Bay Area from the Federal government, rather than revenue coming from foreign visitors. Tourism to the country is already projected to decline under the current regime, and removing Alcatraz from the list of popular tourist sites will only exacerbate the tourism decline locally.
It may also mean prisoners in jumpsuits could be joining the annual Escape From Alcatraz Triathalon happening May 31, or the Alcatraz Open Swim scheduled this year for August 31. The dangerous currents and cold waters made escape nearly impossible, but these days people participate in these events of their own free will. We’d rather sail around Alcatraz than swim from it, but turning it back into a prison would be folly and certainly change the character of sailing around this Bay Area landmark.
In other news on California’s working waterfront, the ports of Oakland, Los Angeles and Long Beach are bracing for a near-term 20-40% drop in container traffic, which will create more room for sailing, but fewer ship wakes for wing foilers to surf as the ships enter the Bay.
In normal times, this would be an April 1 Lectronic piece….
Besides a fresh water supply it would need waste disposal as well; there isn’t any now on the island. Never has been. The naiveté of the person wishing to put any population on Alcatraz without substantial upgrades to the environmental needs is truly foolish in the least.
We all know why the press release was about “his” government. It is always about him, never about us.
Just one more example of how he’s spending our tax dollars over a day dream just so he can say he’s bringing jobs back to the Bay Area and at the same time rub our noses in his deportation plans.
As mad and bad ideas go, this is truly a showstopper. The NYT article also mentions the necessity and cost of supplying the island with fuel and freshwater.
I thought this must be an April Fool’s joke, then I realized it was May.
Well it’s not like San Quentin isn’t actively operating- oh yeah it is 🤣
and then there is that little problem with potable water….
Most Trump comments have to be taken as metaphor. What he really meant is that it should be painted international orange and yellow and re-named Trump Island and be used as a required mark in all sailboat races on the Bay.
I thought they were all going overseas.
How about Greenland. ?
Perhaps it will continue to be a tourist destination! If you’re a certain top-tier donor to Trump, you have ALL-ACCESS to tour the prison and look at the detainees (much like a zoo)!
Never mind, you said to keep it friendly
Alcatraz is a tourist attraction and a national park. Are the tourist fees enough to pay for all the
maintenance, and up keep costs of Alcatraz park? The idea of turning it into a prison again
would be expensive. Not the best idea, but an idea. If the maintenance and the up keep costs of
Alcatraz park is more then what is collected in fees from the tourists, let us really save Federal tax payer’s dollars and shut the place down. You could also raise the fees to see the Island high enough to cover all the maintenance and up keep costs. Right now every man, women and child in the USA that are citizens owe $106,000 each to pay off the national debt. It is climbing by the hour. So what Ideas do you have to pay off or down the national debt? The USA and most states are in real financial trouble.
Isn’t it going to be Trump island inside of “Trump Francisco Bay?”
All I can say at this point is: MIDTERMS!
Nixon tried to build a gondola up Half Dome for the MCA Corp. This tops that.
Perhaps this is what should really happen with Alcatraz…
https://babylonbee.com/news/trump-to-expand-alcatraz-by-putting-up-fence-around-san-francisco
My previous attempt of humor was apparently rejected…oh well…If this is the biggest issue in SF Bay, it’s no wonder that sailing activities and race participation keep diminishing….
Not a real thing. Meanwhile, there are lots of things that are real that need our attention and resistance.
Well said JJ.
“Gotta fix this $40T debt but don’t make it uncomfortable!😒
Great idea!