Trump, isolated in his plan to reopen the notorious "Alcatraz"
During a Monday morning trip to Alcatraz, international tourists expressed critiques regarding the president's proposal to reinstate it as a federal penitentiary, showing only marginally less disapproval than the Democratic politicians governing San Francisco.
TroibNews 
ALCATRAZ ISLAND, California — If the park rangers of Alcatraz are soon to be succeeded by the prison wardens of California’s newest penitentiary, the throngs of tourists traversing the decaying 22-acre fortress on Monday morning will create a surreal experience bridging two eras of incarceration.
Today, children in strollers marvel at the 9-by-5-foot jail cells, while seagulls and shorebirds nest amid the crumbling remnants of dilapidated buildings. Meanwhile, at the gift shop, visitors snap up Alcatraz guard whistles and tin prisoner cups priced at $10.95 each.
“Welcome to your national parks,” a ranger named Matt Connelly shouted to tourists disembarking from the ferry arriving from San Francisco on Monday. “We hope you have a safe and pleasant trip to Alcatraz Island.”
Since President Donald Trump announced his intention to reopen a “substantially enlarged” Alcatraz to “house America’s most ruthless and violent offenders,” California politicians have widely criticized the concept as a distraction, a fantasy, or even a farce. State Sen. Scott Wiener declared the proposal “absurd on its face,” while Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi referred to it as unserious—a sentiment that current San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie echoed during a news conference Monday morning.
Nancy Tung, chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, expressed her view of Trump’s plan as “asinine.”
“I’m kind of at a loss for words on this,” Tung said. “The way for the country to project strength is not by returning to the past. The days of Alcatraz being a place for incarceration have long since passed.”
Trump’s announcement marked another turning point in the complex and troubled history of Alcatraz, a rocky island situated about 1.5 miles off the coast of San Francisco. Originally constructed as a fort, it briefly functioned as a military prison before being established as a federal penitentiary in 1934.
Over the years, the prison gained notoriety for its harsh conditions that tested the sanity of its inmates. Escape was nearly impossible, often resulting in death, and punishments were frequent and brutal. In Trump’s vision, the island would again serve to confine the country's most violent and notorious offenders. However, the prison was closed in 1963 due to escalating operational costs and the availability of superior facilities on the mainland.
Today, the park emphasizes visitor safety by warning about tripping hazards and uneven surfaces. Handrails adorn the walkways, leading to informational plaques about the salamanders and deer mice that now inhabit the island.
Like San Francisco’s politicians, visitors to the park also seem to regard the notion of a renewed Alcatraz prison as improbable.
“It’s a mind game,” remarked one Argentine tourist. “Insanity,” added a Canadian.
“I say if this is what we need to do, then do it,” commented Florida visitor Stephanie Bishop. “But if we don’t, then maybe just leave it alone.”
The park stands as a testament to somber chapters in American history. One wall features a quote from Nelson Mandela that reads, “a nation should be judged not by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.” A sign near the entrance states, “if you break the rules, you go to prison. If you break the prison rules, you go to Alcatraz.” Large exhibits focus on mass incarceration, and visitors can step into a windowless cell and close the door for a fleeting experience of solitary confinement.
However, while speaking at an unrelated event at the White House Monday morning, Trump labeled Alcatraz, the legendary inescapable prison, as a symbol of a more rugged and formidable America. He stated that it “represents something very strong, very powerful in terms of law and order.”
“It housed the most violent criminals in the world and nobody ever escaped,” Trump told reporters. “It is, right now, a museum, believe it or not.”
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
Today, children in strollers marvel at the 9-by-5-foot jail cells, while seagulls and shorebirds nest amid the crumbling remnants of dilapidated buildings. Meanwhile, at the gift shop, visitors snap up Alcatraz guard whistles and tin prisoner cups priced at $10.95 each.
“Welcome to your national parks,” a ranger named Matt Connelly shouted to tourists disembarking from the ferry arriving from San Francisco on Monday. “We hope you have a safe and pleasant trip to Alcatraz Island.”
Since President Donald Trump announced his intention to reopen a “substantially enlarged” Alcatraz to “house America’s most ruthless and violent offenders,” California politicians have widely criticized the concept as a distraction, a fantasy, or even a farce. State Sen. Scott Wiener declared the proposal “absurd on its face,” while Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi referred to it as unserious—a sentiment that current San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie echoed during a news conference Monday morning.
Nancy Tung, chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, expressed her view of Trump’s plan as “asinine.”
“I’m kind of at a loss for words on this,” Tung said. “The way for the country to project strength is not by returning to the past. The days of Alcatraz being a place for incarceration have long since passed.”
Trump’s announcement marked another turning point in the complex and troubled history of Alcatraz, a rocky island situated about 1.5 miles off the coast of San Francisco. Originally constructed as a fort, it briefly functioned as a military prison before being established as a federal penitentiary in 1934.
Over the years, the prison gained notoriety for its harsh conditions that tested the sanity of its inmates. Escape was nearly impossible, often resulting in death, and punishments were frequent and brutal. In Trump’s vision, the island would again serve to confine the country's most violent and notorious offenders. However, the prison was closed in 1963 due to escalating operational costs and the availability of superior facilities on the mainland.
Today, the park emphasizes visitor safety by warning about tripping hazards and uneven surfaces. Handrails adorn the walkways, leading to informational plaques about the salamanders and deer mice that now inhabit the island.
Like San Francisco’s politicians, visitors to the park also seem to regard the notion of a renewed Alcatraz prison as improbable.
“It’s a mind game,” remarked one Argentine tourist. “Insanity,” added a Canadian.
“I say if this is what we need to do, then do it,” commented Florida visitor Stephanie Bishop. “But if we don’t, then maybe just leave it alone.”
The park stands as a testament to somber chapters in American history. One wall features a quote from Nelson Mandela that reads, “a nation should be judged not by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.” A sign near the entrance states, “if you break the rules, you go to prison. If you break the prison rules, you go to Alcatraz.” Large exhibits focus on mass incarceration, and visitors can step into a windowless cell and close the door for a fleeting experience of solitary confinement.
However, while speaking at an unrelated event at the White House Monday morning, Trump labeled Alcatraz, the legendary inescapable prison, as a symbol of a more rugged and formidable America. He stated that it “represents something very strong, very powerful in terms of law and order.”
“It housed the most violent criminals in the world and nobody ever escaped,” Trump told reporters. “It is, right now, a museum, believe it or not.”
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
