By Antonia Noori Farzan | Phoenix New Times
Just about everybody seems to like Governor Doug Ducey’s idea for a facility that provides substance abuse treatment, life skills classes, job placement assistance, and temporary housing to people who have recently been released from prison.
But it seems like no one wants it in the neighborhood.
Last year, the Ducey administration opened up a re-entry center in North Phoenix, near Interstate 17 and Happy Valley Road. Hundreds of residents from the surrounding community — which is predominantly white, conservative, and middle class — took to the streets in protest.
Now, the governor is looking to potentially move the center to Maricopa County’s Durango Criminal Justice Complex in southwest Phoenix. An employment center providing job training and placement services for inmates who will be released soon would also be located at the site, which is perhaps best known as the former home of Tent City.
South Phoenix community leaders are not exactly thrilled.
