Local lawmakers ask residents to sign petition to keep SCI Frackville open
PHOTO COURTESY - Penna. Dept. of Corrections - SCI-Frackville was announced as one of five prisons being considered for closure. The State will choose two of that list of five by the end of the month, which will close this summer.
FRACKVILLE – Earlier this month, the commonwealth Department of Corrections announced that two prisons from a list of five will close by June 30th of this year . The two will be chosen by the end of this month. Included in the list was SCI-Frackville. The other four include:
- SCI Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
- SCI Mercer, Mercer, Mercer County
- SCI Retreat, Hunlock Creek, Luzerne County
- SCI Waymart, Waymart, Wayne County
The announcement has prompted Senator David G. Argall and Representatives Neal Goodman, Jerry Knowles, and Mike Tobash to launch online petitions to encourage Governor Wolf and Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel to keep the state prison in Frackville open.
The local legislators believe the issue is deeper than the 400 local men and women employed at the prison.
“This is truly an impact that could be felt across not just the community, but across the county and region,” Argall said. “These petitions are for taxpayers who feel very strongly that SCI Frackville should remain open.”
“I’m shocked SCI Frackville was included in this list. Frackville is one of the best-run facilities in the Commonwealth,” Goodman said. “Schuylkill County also is an area that cannot sustain the loss of 400 positions. We are doing everything we can to prevent this. We need your help in signing this petition to keep Frackville open.”
“The reality is there would be no good reason to close SCI-Frackville,” Knowles said. “I hope Schuylkill County residents and area taxpayers take the time to sign this petition and have their voices heard when it comes to keeping this facilities’ doors open.”
“I have heard from many of our neighbors who are upset about SCI Frackville being on the list of potential facilities to be closed,” Tobash said. “I am not in favor of that happening, and I am encouraging everyone to sign the petition to help keep SCI Frackville open.”
The lawmakers continue to remain in contact with Governor Wolf and Secretary Wetzel through the process to close the state prisons.
Those interested in signing the petitions can do so by following these links: http://www.pahouse.com/Goodman/Form/?id=1117
http://www.senatorargall.com/keepfrackvilleopen/
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