Several South Sacramento residents are fighting back against the city after the Planning and Design Commission approved a permit for GEO Reentry Services to open a facility near several schools.
The proposed facility would be located at a business park on Franklin Boulevard near Florin Road, which is approximately 1,000 feet from two Sacramento City Unified School District schools; Bowling Green Chacon Elementary School and Bowling Green McCoy Elementary School.
GEO Reentry Services provides behavior therapy, job training, and other services for former inmates to transition back into society.
"Don't get us wrong, we have sympathy,” said Artelias Aikens with the Hampton Station Neighborhood Association. “We do want to see everybody fit into society appropriately and be successful."
However, Aikens and other neighbors say they’re adamant about not wanting the center to open close to their homes and schools.
“It’s a safety issue because we're going to have former rapists coming out of jail, prison, child molesters," Aikens adds.
GEO Reentry Services Regional Director, Rachel Kienzler told ABC10 that the 30 former inmates volunteered to be in the program because they want to be successful as they get back on their feet.
“These are folks that are already living and working in Sacramento,” Kienzler explained. “Their children may be going to the very same schools. These are folks that we're seeing all the time and we just don't even realize it. They just made a bad choice, ended up in a bad situation, and now really want to better their lives."
SCUSD also sent the city a letter before the permit was approved in December that said, “The Sacramento City Unified School District opposes the application for a conditional use permit by GEO Reentry Services.”
Superintendent Jorge A. Aguilar wrote in the letter, “Given the type and level of offenders that would be present at the proposed facility, the District is extremely concerned for the safety and wellbeing of its students.”
South Sacramento residents filed an appeal with the City and are waiting to voice their concerns next month.
The City’s Planning Director, Tom Pace, said a new hearing is scheduled for March 6. During that meeting, council is expected to decide if the project moves forward.