Facility Commander, City Jail No. 1: Michael Lavigne

Continued from last page several new policies to reduce both the number of federal prisoners and state parolees, and has changed its citation policy for misdemeanor cases so that many people are now released on their promise to appear in court, Lavigne said. Lack of Funds

Sentinel USA asked Lavigne why all gay prisoners were still being housed in one area, when the City prisoners had been grouped according to charges and prior arrest histories since 1980. Lavigne said there simply hadn't been money available to create additional dormitories at the 850 Bryant facility. He indicated that $250,000 had recently been approved to renovate a vacant kitchen area for an additional gay dorm housing 26 men, and that when it was completed, gay men would also be grouped by the classification system. According to Lavigne, roughly ten percent of inmates at the jail are gay. He added, however, that even without a classification system, "generally gay

Power from page A Growing Momentum

Two groups in existance since May, "Campaign for Social Justice," and "Gay and Lesbian Defense Committee," are foraging large-scale plans for direct intervention in state politics and in the electoral process.

Campaign for Social Justice plans to have some 100,000 or more telephone numbers on hand for quick election action and direct electoral influence.

A long-term goal for these groups could be the outster of encumbent Dukakis, whom gays have pegged as responsible for a recent administration decision to take a child out of a Boston lesbian household.

Last May, the couple was first granted foster parental status, then three weeks later, the DSS reversed its decision because of media coverage given the adoption case. Published reports have since linked the DSS decision directly with Dukakis' office.

Since then, hundreds have marched on the State House in Boston and the governor's house in protest. Gay periodicals have printed numerous articles and editorials on the subject. Gay activists attribute increased attendance at the Boston "Gay Pride" parade earlier this summer to increasing politicization in the gay community.

people are still safer amongst other gay people than among nongays. The gay officers who work here also feel that gay people tend not to be victimized when housed with other gays!"

Eight violations are specifically mentioned in the new court motion, including overcrowding, unsanitary conditions and materials, insufficient staffing levels, retention of mentally ill persons for more than 24 hours, fire safety provisions, and lack of procedures and policies manuals.

Lavigne was willing to discuss all eight points. He conceded that mentally ill persons are sometimes housed at the jail for more than 24 hours, but said this is because of overcrowding at San Francisco General Hospital and cuts in state mental hospital budgets.

SAVAGE PHOTOGRAPHY

"Part of the problem is that there's no place to take them (the mentally ill) and the officer on the street has to do something with persons who I cannot maintain themselves out there. We are the house of last resort," Lavigne said.

A brand new smoke detec-

The Players

In the eye of this emerging gay politics is Boston Councilman David Scondras.

"I think as far as the gay community is concerned, nothing has outraged us as much since Anita Bryant. The people here are quite determined. I've never seen anything like it in my 18 years in politics. "We are out to get power," Scondras said, "We want the ability to call the vote.'

Gay and Lesbian Defense Committee has been attracting 100 to 125 people to meetings, according to activist Susan Holmes, drawing from towns throughout the state, including eastern Massachusetts, largely gay Provincetown and Boston.

Holmes, who heads "Operation Duke Watch," is seeking to directly affect Dukakis current policy by creating possible political obstacles to Dukakis in the form of election retribution.

She said her group does not necessarily intend to attempt a Dukakis defeat but, she said, the governor has not responded to the group and solid agreement among many gay activists is that the gay community could be moving into a more assertive position.

Said Scondras, "The community will be moving from a reactive stance into a position of ongoing effectiveness, institutionalizing the gay community in the state political process. The energy exists to do

tion system has been installed, according to Lavigne, "but we're still trying to get the bugs out of it." He hopes to get it operating soon and thus comply with another provision of the consent decree. The jail uses an outdated forced air system for ventilation which need replacing, "but that will require a huge capital improvement," Lavigne said.

The jail is still attempting to find a way to disinfect mattresses safely. When asked how other detention facilities handle the problem, Lavigne said he did not know. He claimed he personally inspects the showers once a week to make sure they've been cleaned, and has implemented an incentive system to improve the cleanliness of the dorms.

Jails are expensive places to maintain. Over $1.5 million has been spent on capital improvements alone at City Jail No. 1 since 1982, according to San Francisco Sheriff Michael Hennessey. Until additional housing is provided, some terms of the consent decree will remain unfulfilled. Hennessey said the space is available. "We hope to take over the sixth floor courtroom and the police auditorium for housing. Both areas would add 150 beds to the jail." At the same time Henessey admitted there is no money in his budget either for this renovation or to hire additional deputies to handle the jail overflow.

Mayor Dianne Feinstein created a Jail Overcrowding Committee to determine if improvements might be implemented to increase the efficiency of jail operations. It seems unlikely, however, that system efficiencies will solve the overriding problems at the city jail.

"Money and space are the primary issues,' said Hennessey, "but money buys space."

it."

And Holmes said, "We can have an effect in coalition, with other groups behind us. We think we have more clout than they think we do. Over the past five years the traditional liberal coalition here has grown stronger.

"Our goal is to keep the (foster parenting) issue on the minds of our supporters," she said.

Holmes' group has followed the governor on speaking engagements around the state, staging a visible presence which, she said, the television news media has often picked

up.

"We don't oppose the governor. We oppose his policy," Holmes said. But most indications seem to suggest an emerging gay leadership may not be willing to stick to opposing only one policy of only one gover-

nor.

AIDS Computer

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Anyone with a computer and a modem may call. A brief announcement is shown, the caller is asked to give his/her name, and asked to state a code name, to use on a second call later, retrieving messages.

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August 1, 1985 Sentinel USA 5