At a time when jail cell space is limited and is expected to be that way long into the future, why would anyone with an ounce of common sense give one moment's thought to giving the old jail away to the homeless?

Now, I have nothing against the homeless. But keeping criminals locked up is more important. That old jail could be used for underage prisoners or women inmates and run by the sheriff's department.

I believe there are people who would want this to happen because there is a government grant of $250 million that goes along with the project. If it does happen, low and behold, we'll have another nonprofit outfit doing business with no audits.

There will come a point in time when the new jail will run out of room and we will look in retrospect and ask why. It's time to stop asking why our government officials do stupid things. If the city of Elizabeth City and Pasquotank County are so worried about the homeless, then they should address that issue directly and build a place for them rather than put them in a jail.

TOM MARSHALL

Pasquotank County