As the Johnson County Justice Center Vote Debate Heats Up, Catch Up with Both Sides Online

A community forum on the upcoming Johnson County Justice Center vote was held earlier this week, but as Lee Hermiston of the Iowa City Press-Citizen wrote there was a notable lack of dissenting voices present.

Well, it turns out a lot of those dissenting (and supporting) voices can be found not in traditional venues like that forum, but organizing against each other online.

The $46.8 million bond referendum on the Justice Center Project is up for approval on this November's ballot. The project would build a new 243-bed jail space next to the existing Johnson County Courthouse, and would also include renovations to this historic building to help it continue to serve in its capacity as a courthouse.

Opposition to this referendum, however, is growing online.

There is a new website votenojusticecenter.org that was recently launched by opponents of the project. The website argues that the project, in addition to costing $46.8 million in tax funded bonds, would institute TSA-style security for court visits and the new spaces would lead to more arrests to justify the extra room. The website also features printable fliers and yard signs for those who oppose the project to show their solidarity.

The website also accused supporters of the jail project of using "fear mongering" to the public to elicit support for the jail.

A meeting of jail opponents has also been scheduled on Facebook. It will be in meeting room E at the Iowa City Public Library from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. this Saturday.

But supporters of the justice center are using online outlets to get their views out as well.

Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek, a longtime proponent of the new jail, held a Liveblog chat on the Press-Citizen website to answer questions about the project. That chat can be read here.

The Johnson County website also has a section devoted to sharing background information about the project.

Finally, to two local legislative bodies through their support behind the justice center vote, with both the Iowa City City Council (Jim Throgmorton abstaining) and the University of Iowa Student Government endorsing the project. You can these two respective endorsements here and here.

Correction: It was originally reported that Jim Throgmorton voted no on supporting the Justice Center, when he actually abstained from the vote.