May 22, 2020: Inside MCI's kitchen

I recently started a temporary job working in the Vomitorium (not the theatre type exit - look it up, I'm referring to MCI's kitchen) from 4 AM to 11 AM every other day. For my efforts I will be paid an additional $12.00 per month and have a notation on my 'record' that I volunteered during the pandemic. I will also generate Community Service hours, which may come in handy when a group of people who don't know me determine my fate many years from now. Every story you've heard about prison food is probably true and was cooked in a prison kitchen. The kitchen at MCI is huge and serves roughly 2500 inmates two or three times a day, determined by Brunch operations. The first experience you have when entering the kitchen is the pervasive smell of mildew and mold, the place is filthy. I can only imagine the pooch and pony show that must take place when the Marion County Health Inspector comes to visit, certainly an 'announced' unannounced visit. I have a list of things to share about my experiences, but want to bring two of the most serious concerns to your attention, in hope someone that reads this will be infuriated and take action on our, and taxpayer's behalf. Most of the equipment in the kitchen is old and in need of repair, some of it easily fixed. Safety guards are removed on some equipment, makeshift levers and handles used to operate the machinery jeopardize the safety of the operators. The equipment is primarily from Hobart and is of good quality, but very poorly maintained. One example are the steam kettles that are used daily. The kettles leak from their drain valves to the point where hot water is required to be added to keep the kettle full. Hot water is run at full force INTO them from a faucet for hours - nonstop, to compensate for the loss of water FROM them. Imagine trying to fill your bathtub with the drain open - same concept. The solution is a simple replacement of readily available valve handle gaskets, about 30 minutes of work per unit. Mr.Mrs. Taxpayer, the repairs to the kettles are far less expensive than running the liquid equivalent of your money down the drain! This practice has gone on so long that the cooks have devised a method of using baking sheet pans to keep the near-boiling water from splashing onto unsuspecting passerbys. I bet the cost of repair to the kettles is less than the fancy-schmancy Barber Shop pole that was installed outside the Staff Barbershop! If/when you have an opportunity to see it, remember that your tax dollars were used to help Staff locate the haircut/shoeshine room. The pole is awesome, it lights up and spins, too! The second, more serious concern I'll share today is a health and safety issue that has the potential to harm many. In the same room with the steam kettles is a long and narrow stainless steel prep table where our patty-forward cuisine is created; a sink in the middle is shared by all cooks. There is a large hole in the ceiling directly above the table with a vinyl shower curtain (the same type used in the housing unit showers) positioned to divert leaks from the ceiling away from the prep table. An elaborate series of ropes have been tied to the vinyl curtain in an attempt to stop roof leaks from landing on the prep table, funneling water into a mop bucket. Unfortunately, not all the leaking water makes the journey to the mop bucket and splashes on the table. MCI has a history of roof issues, the main hallway being the usual place where leaks occur. The leak in the kitchen has been there for months, and exposes building/roofing materials covered in rust and black mold to the area where food is prepared and inmates work. Contaminated air that passes from the ceiling area to the kitchen brings with it potentially harmful substances that could land in food, on surfaces and be inhaled by Staff and inmates alike. ODRC/MCI's response to Covid-19 exposed the lack of concern over inmate/Staff health and safety at MCI. The two items addressed today are not new and are well known by administration, but remain unresolved. Please help.