From the #ShutDownBerks Coalition (https://www.facebook.com/ShutDownBerksCoalition/):
This is HUGE news! At a Berks County Commissioner candidate forum last week we heard from a current County Commissioner that he has been in talks with the Governor’s office since July to figure out a way to convert the prison for a new use.
“As recently as two weeks ago we met with the Governor’s staff, his budget director and folks at DHS to try to find a workout plan, to try to find a better use a better purpose for that building, for the staff, for the building use and things like that, and just eliminate the federal program. I didn’t get what I was expecting from the Governor, but that doesn’t mean that I’m a quitter. They didn’t put anything across the table that I liked, but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to keep fighting.” – Berks County Commissioner Kevin Barnhardt
He shared with the crowd that the Governor’s office has proposed two state programs for the facility, with a third option being an agriculture R&D site. He also shared that fellow Berks County Commissioner Leinbach is on board to convert the prison as well!
This announcement comes the same week news broke that the state will be receiving 53 million from the opioid treatment settlement. The funds are there, the community support is there, now we just need these elected officials to finish what they started.
Make a call right now, demand an Emergency Removal Order be issued today and that an agreement on the conversion happens within the month
- Governor Tom Wolf (717) 787-2500
- Lt. Gov. Fetterman (717) 787-3300
- PA DHS Secretary Miller (717) 787-2600
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