The Hostages' Demands

Dear Secretary Diaz,

     I realize it's customary for the hostage taker, and not the hostages, to make demands, but these are far from "ordinary circumstances," wouldn't you say? And besides, you've yet to issue your demands, and you've already killed 25 of us. With that said, here are a list of our demands:

1. Immediately cease and desist all transfers. CDCR/CCHCS have already demonstrated a complete inability to do so in a safe manner, and the risk of false negatives and post-test exposures are too great;
2. Immediately cease and desist all moves from one building to another. Relocating people is contradictory to the "cohort plan" outlined to Senator Nancy Skinner and reintroduces the virus into areas it was just eradicated from, or where it didn't previously exist;
3. Reinstate 3 days of free phone calls per week. You told Senator Skinner we were getting free phone calls during the COVID 19 pandemic, but that was factually incorrect. The calls had actually expired the same day you testified, and the pandemic is now out of control;
4. Issue electronic tablets that work with CDCR's WiFi and that can be used to place our calls home. The public phones are a major source of contamination. These tablets could also be used for distance learning, emails and submitting various institutional forms, making your staff accountable for our request and appeal forms, most of which are now being thrown away or unreasonably withheld;
5. Provide everyone with a one time grant if 6 months in milestone and/or RAC credits for doing their part to protect your staff from infection;
6. Immediately release EVERYONE with less than 6 months to serve, regardless as to The nature of their offense. This is the only way you're going to get any space to even.attempt social distancing; and
7. Immediately rewrite your criteria for recommending us for resentencing under Pen C §1170(d)(1) so that anyone with sentencing enhancements can be seriously considered for resentencing.

     Sincerely,

     Your favorite hostage