web1_Breakdown.jpg

Cabinet announces Susquehanna Breakdown music festival at Montage Mountain

web1_macbeth3.jpg

REV Theatre production in Scranton ‘not your grandpa’s ‘Macbeth’’

<p>Tom Wolf has done a lot of things right recently, including boosting school spending and modernizing the state alcohol sales system. Much of what Harrisburg has done may feel like half-steps, but with a Democratic governor and a Republican-controlled legislature, any reasonable progress is a positive sign.</p><p>The inept handling of the closing of a state prison emphatically does not go in the &#8220;done right&#8221; column.</p><p>Remember that this all started with an unexpected announcement Jan. 6 that five state correctional institutions were essentially finalists as the Department of Corrections mulled closing two facilities. The surprise factor was upped by the date for the final decision &#8212; Jan. 26.</p><p>That meant a scant 20 days for workers, communities, school districts and politicians impacted by the closing of any of those five facilities to mount a case for saving their prison.</p><p>It meant 2,481 employees in those prisons were on pins and needles for three weeks, unsure if they would have jobs when February rolled around.</p><p>It meant more than 7,000 inmates and &#8212; more importantly &#8212; their families woke up every day wondering who would be relocated.</p><p>It meant the communities surrounding those prisons anxiously wondered what would happen if their institution closed and state money flowing into their area disappeared. Combined, the five institutions cost an estimated $373 million to run this year.</p><p>And yet, when the final announcement was made Thursday morning, it turns out there was only <em>one</em> prison being closed, in Pittsburgh, and in some key ways the most logical one to shutter.</p><p>Pittsburgh SCI is the oldest of the five, built in 1882, 30 years before the second oldest in Waymart. It was also the most costly to run, at an estimated $100 million this year.</p><p>Why create so much angst for so many people by announcing two of five would be closed, then close one? And if you are going to leave so many people guessing which of five prisons will be closed, why not involve those affected in the decision-making process sooner?</p><p>Both Wolf and Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel insisted they were being transparent and attentive to public input throughout the process. With Thursday&#8217;s announcement that SCI Pittsburgh would be the only prison closed, Wolf issued a statement that bragged: &#8220;I commend Secretary Wetzel and the Department of Corrections for their transparent, inclusive and comprehensive process.&#8221;</p><p>It was none of the above. The fact that the initial announcement said two prisons would be closed, yet only one will be belies, the &#8220;comprehensive&#8221; claim. The fact that area legislatures claimed credit for saving SCI Retreat in Newport Township by organizing public hearings when the DOC did not belies the &#8220;inclusive&#8221; and &#8220;transparent&#8221; claims.</p><p>As was noted in this space when the closing plan was first announced, closing a prison should be considered a plus. But Wolf and his administration made so many missteps here that, even if it was the right decision, it was the wrong move.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_SCI-Prison-locator-1-27-17-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_SCI-Prison-locator-1-27-17-3.jpg</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>

Our view: Prison closing mishandled from the start