High-Rise Justice: Making Space for Everyone

What if a skyscraper wasn’t just for offices or apartments but for jail cells? That’s the idea behind a new "jailscraper" that one city is planning to build—costing around $15 billion. The goal is to replace older jails with a modern, taller building that can hold more people. But not everyone is thrilled.

What’s a Jail vs. a Prison?
A jail is for short-term stays, like for people waiting for their trial or serving time for minor offenses.
A prison is for long-term sentences, often for more serious crimes.

The Debate:

Pros:
1. Modern jails might be safer and more humane.
2. Building up (instead of out) saves space in crowded cities.
3. It could replace older, less functional facilities.

Cons:
1. The Chinatown community feels the money could go to schools, housing, or other services.
2. Jailscrapers might increase traffic and noise in the area.
3. Many argue that focusing on jails doesn’t solve deeper issues like poverty or crime prevention.

Your Task:
Imagine your own city is planning to build a jailscraper. While you probably can't stop the project from happening, you can use your voice to help make sure it has a more positive impact.

Write a letter to your city’s mayor suggesting ways to make the project less disruptive and more beneficial to the surrounding neighborhood. Could the building feature local art or murals to reflect the community’s culture? Provide shops or a community center on the first floor? Use underground entrances for prisoner transfers?

List at least 3 ideas and explain why you think each one would positively impact your neighborhood and the larger community.