Inmates are dying in stifling Texas prisons, but the state seldom acknowledges heat as a cause of de

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Texas prisons are inhumane with no air conditioning. Prisoners are dying due to this heat

Link to tweet

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/28/texas-prisons-heat-deaths/

McCullough was one of at least five prisoners since mid-June to die of a reported heart attack or cardiac arrest in uncooled prisons where the regions’ outdoor heat indices were above 100 degrees, according to a Texas Tribune analysis of prison death reports and weather data. Another man who died last week in a separate Huntsville prison was only 34.

At least four other prisoners died in hot prisons this month with undetermined causes of death.....

More than two-thirds of Texas’ 100 prisons don’t have air conditioning in most living areas. Every summer, as temperatures routinely soar well into triple digits, thousands of officers and tens of thousands of prisoners are cramped inside concrete and steel buildings without ventilation, save windows broken out of desperation and fans that blow hot air. The heat has killed prisoners, likely contributed to severe staff shortages, and cost taxpayers millions of dollars in wrongful death and civil rights lawsuits over the last decade.

This year, state lawmakers chose again not to put any money directly toward installing air conditioning in the dangerously hot prisons, despite a $32.7 billion budget surplus.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

1. One of the leading candidates for Houston mayor is against air-conditioning for prisoners

Whitmire is running against Sheila Jackson Lee and a host of others for mayor. I suspect one issue will be treatment of prisoners.

Link to tweet

[Grins]

4. He's a Democrat??? WTF?

Fooled me.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

7. Sen. Whitmire was headed to winning this race until Sheila Jackson Lee got into the race

This will be an interesting race. Sheila is a strong candidate and will give Whitmire a good run. Mayor Turner just endorsed Sheila.

Amanda Edwards is a strong candidate and good person dropped out of the race and is now running for Sheila's seat. I really like Amanda and think that she will be a great congresswoman.

[hlthe2b]

2. I used to think it irrational to say things like I'd never go to this or that state, given politics,

but honestly, I cannot even imagine risking somehow ending up in one of their death boxes. And we all know the RW aren't too concerned about preventing false arrests, convictions, and imprisonment.

The FEDS simply have to step in.

[Haggis 4 Breakfast]

3. I am beginning to think that the entire Texas GOP is a death cult.

Last week, governor Abbott signed a bill into law that rescinds the law that mandated water breaks for all outside workers. That means that people can now be forced to work under the withering TX sun in record heat WITHOUT being permitted to stop and drink water to rehydrate.

WHY, Abbott, WHY ?

[3Hotdogs]

5. I'm surprised the staff haven't gone on strike.

The article mentions staff shortages.

[BigOleDummy]

6. How many

examples of rightwing ....... cruelty and downright malice will it take for more outrage about things like this to take root? Yes, I understand that cruelty is a "feature" of the Gang Of Putins but ...... don't these people have ANY shame? ANY moral compass? ANY compassion? What is wrong with these people?