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Alcatraz torn down to make way for peace center?
If you still haven't made it to San Francisco's second-most-popular attraction (the first is cable cars), you might want to start planning that vacation before long. It's possible that Alcatraz, that formidable white structure hunkered out in San Francisco Bay, might be converted into an international peace center, if voters so choose.Reuters reports that a proposition (on ballots Tuesday) comes from the director of the California-based Global Peace Foundation, who gives his name as "Da Vid." Da Vid and his supporters would like to tear the prison down and in its place erect "a medicine wheel, a labyrinth and a conference center for non-violent conflict resolution."
Although the idea sounds pretty far-fetched, Da Vid and volunteers were able to collect the 10,350 signatures needed to put the proposition on the ballot.
Gallery: San Francisco
Filed under: North America, United States, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Nick Hawkins Feb 5th 2008 7:39PM
I wonder how often people in the Bay Area get disconnected from reality and the answer is "a lot."
Marilyn Feb 6th 2008 11:38PM
how about wal-mart?
paul Feb 6th 2008 2:40PM
Please. Voters there won't stand for it. They're very big on keeping their history.
a San Franciscan Feb 6th 2008 8:05PM
I live in San Francisco and I think that Alcatrez is one of the few things that truly represents our city. It should be kept to remind us how this city started out as. Besides, we can always build the stupid center somewhere else right?
jim Feb 6th 2008 11:53PM
thank you
Miss Cee Feb 7th 2008 7:22PM
I visited San Francisco in '05. Alcatraz was a big adventure for me. I plan to come back and see it again. It's a long trip from South Carolina, but worth it.
p curley Feb 6th 2008 8:19PM
Why doesn't the government sell the property to the State of Calif, and then Calif open it as a state prison? They could close San Quentin and thetr would be no more esacpe problems. Or maybe convert San Quentin to a minimum security facility for minor offenders and all the hardened violent criminals could do their time on the rock.
Neil Feb 6th 2008 10:02PM
Can't do that until they find a way to solve the problem that closed it as a federal prison--an economical way to dispose of the sewage without violating EPA regs.
sweettxreb Feb 6th 2008 8:19PM
That is all this country needs, another peace center. For what purpose? People in San Fran must really be clueless to give up their 2nd most popular tourist attraction and all the dollars that go with it.
Amy Leyshon Feb 6th 2008 8:24PM
My husband, and I chose San Francisco for our honeymoon four years ago. I had never been to San Francisco, and loved it. Our tour through Alcatraz was one of the highlights of our trip. It is definitely one of the best historical attributes that the city has to offer. We plan on returning to the city in years to come. Having to see Alcatraz turned into something that could easily be placed in a much less valuable area of the city's attractions would be a huge disappointment.
Andrea Feb 6th 2008 8:32PM
I think the country, in the midst of all of new technology, forgets it's past. We need to keep historical things around to help us realize how far we have come and appreciate what has happened during the lives of others. Alcatraz is remembered for a reason, lets not forget that.
Bill Feb 6th 2008 8:35PM
Way back when I was still in high school ('87ish), I flew from Chicago to California to visit family. While there I went to many places to site see, one of which was Alcatraz. Regardless of how you think of it... good, bad, or indifferent, I thought Alcatraz was an interesting part of not only SanFrancisco's history but also California & the United States' history. If I ever make it back to the Bay Area, I would hope that I can stop by there again to see Alcatraz, maybe show my sons. It says alot about our society. Where we as a nation have been and how we came to be present day. I think it would be a shame if it were to be torn down. Not all of our past is pretty, but there is a lot to learn from it regardless.
Gary Feb 6th 2008 8:39PM
Yeah, and while they're at it, lets tear down the monuments in Washington, DC and put up parking lots! Get real people. Its part of the bay area's history and should be preserved.
What they should do is rebuild it back up to the way it looked before them wild injuns burned it down. In fact, they should foot the cost with monies from their casinos!
Joanna Feb 6th 2008 8:44PM
p curley-
the main reason why the prison was closed down in the first place was because it became too expensive to maintain. The corosion from the salt water was too much and too costly to repair frequently. Only a portion of the income it takes in now goes to maintaining the place. The rest goes to the city and to the workers that run the attraction.
If the people want to tear it down and build a peace center, they are stupid. It will shut down in a few years for the same reason.
FACTS are your friend Feb 6th 2008 8:51PM
Here are the FACTS about the Alcatraz rumor:
http://www.kcbs.com/pages/1606652.php?
The proposal was DEFEATED by a very wide margin. Please stop getting your facts from a blog, people!!
Brian Feb 7th 2008 4:09AM
I agree, blogs should not be used as a news source, but in this case the blog was correct. The blog was written before electon day and said the proposition would be on the ballots on Tuesday. The TV station said the proposition was defeated by voters. There are no factual errors.
Cat Feb 6th 2008 8:59PM
Morons like Da Vid give us normal peaceful people a bad name.
Christine Feb 6th 2008 9:01PM
I would like to add that it is irresponsible journalism for Gadling to report this silly hippie rumor as if it were actually happening (ZOMG! Alcatraz is getting torn down TOMORROW!), and for AOL to link to this article the day AFTER the proposition was defeated by voters.
However, all of you are equally dumb and gullible for believing a blog instead of the real news. And for those who think SF is SOOO stupid (Nick Hawkins and sweettxreb), then please don’t come here.
Malissa Feb 6th 2008 9:03PM
I'm glad it was defeated. It was stupid to start with. The only reason "Da Vid"(or whatever his real name was before he changed it) had a "vision". He needs to take his "vision" and ...well, find another piece of land!
John Feb 6th 2008 9:03PM
They should give Alcatraz landmark status, and put a stop to the nonsense of destroying national history. Good, bad, or indifferent, Alcatraz has a place in American history, and should be restored and kept as it was when there were prisoners there. I am sure it takes a great deal of money to maintain the buidings, but in my opinion, they should do whatever they have to do to keep our historical buildings in working condition. Too much of our history gets torn down in the name of "bettering the world". We need a "Peace Center" there like we need a hole in the head.