Phil Dirkx

In last week’s column, I asked for suggestions: What would be a good new use for the now-closed youth prison in my hometown, Paso Robles? Five readers responded. One reader told me it should be a veterans training center. Another said turn it into a village for homeless people. Another suggested a prison honor farm. A married couple suggested private use.

Paso Robles City Councilmember Fred Strong sent an email to several people last Saturday about the vacant youth prison in Paso Robles. He suggested the state sell it to the city for $1.

This year, Paso Robles, my hometown, was supposed to get a new, 1,000-bed prison. What we have now is a vacant youth prison. About a year ago, state prison officials said they were going to transform that empty youth prison into an adult prison. But now they’ve changed their minds.