by The AVA
Dear AVA, This is Tony B. live from San Quentin. I’ve been busy, in case you guys have been wondering. I finally made it out of West Block after three months. I was moved to North Block last week. Now I get to hang out with the lifers. Pretty good group of guys, actually. Everybody [...]
Dear Editor: The man in the cell next to mine hung himself yesterday. I knew him for almost four years. He had what I have: an unreasonable Three Strikes sentence. They dragged him out of his cell after cutting him down and attempted CPR on him unsuccessfully right in front of my cell. It was [...]
by The AVA
Editor, A Short-Term Death Sentence — On February 19 while in Mendocino County Jail I was tested at 4am and had low blood sugar of 59. I was given 25 units of Lantus but I only took 15 units. I was also given one sugar tablet which I ate half of. I returned to my [...]
Editor, Dateline San Quentin State prison, South block, Alpine section, entry 2: Play now, Pay later. Picking up the pieces one day at a time. I find myself stranded somewhere between nowhere and goodbye. My surroundings are familiar but comfort eludes me. I’m so alone yet my cell feels crowded. I can’t escape this place [...]
by The AVA
Dear AVA, This is Mr. Gutmann, “The One and Only!” You might remember me from an article you published a while back titled “Something Nice” by Bruce McEwen. I was the one who was “supposed” to get the life sentence for the premeditated attempted murder of William Troy Passmore, but thanks to the fine work [...]
To the editor, I want to acknowledge and commend Mr. Bruce McEwen for the bold journalism displayed in his report in your Off The Record section on March 3, 2010. I respect anyone unafraid to call a spade a spade and not shy away from the facts and truth of matters of importance. It troubles [...]
Dear AVA, I was just about to write you to see if you knew whether the documentary “Rivers of a Lost Coast,” featured at the Anderson Valley Film Festival is available to the public or not. Then I found an article on the film in the January 2010 issue of Salmon and Trout Steelheader magazine. [...]
Dear AVA, I would just like to thank you for sending me your paper and continuing with the awesome work on your end. I only know that it is a pleasure to have your paper passed through my bars by some stupid correctional officer each week. Conditions are [bleep]ed here in Quentin. It’s dirty, crowded [...]
To the editor and all of those at the good old AVA: I hope all is well there. I was not going to write this story because the last one had me ending up in the office and needless to say I came out on the short end of the stick. But I can’t just [...]
To whom it may concern, My name is Glenn Sunkett. I am an African American citizen and Oakland California resident who is being illegally detained, prejudiced, racially discriminated against, inhumanly traded, and a constant subject of cruel and unusual punishment inside the criminal court system and detention center here in Ukiah, California. I have been [...]
