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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

A Halfway House in Easton?

At this evening's prison advisory board meeting, Northampton County Council Prez Ann McHale listened as people from Shiloh church talked about renovating a building to set up a halfway house for released inmates. McHale may ask council to dive into its slush fund, i.e. "contingency fund" to help with the $65,000 in construction costs.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe its just me but I am confused. I here all the time about budget problems, pension issues, Human Services deficits, pay issues. In other words the County is facing some tough times.

Then another group comes forward with an idea, not a bad one either, and we say lets spend some more money. I mean Health Dept, Parks and other things. What the Hellis going on.

Part of me thinks Council is trolling for votes. Maybe responsible Government would be to stop the giveaways for now and get the County act together.

Just a thought

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Part of me thinks Council is trolling for votes."

All of me thinks that. Ann McHale would like to be county exec. She will spend your money to buy votes in Easton, knowing that Shiloh tends to deliver Easton's black vote.

What also bothers me is how this fits in with the treatment center Stoffa is planning in Bethlehem Tp. It may be that this complements that idea, but what if it is redundant?

What McHale does not realize is that this halfway house might endear her with Shiloh, but it will probably annoy the rest of Easton.

Anonymous said...

I'm a Lehigh County guy, and I look at Northampton County as a huge problem in the future.

Why would anyone want to be County Exec? It sounds like someone running to be Captain of the Titanic.

What am I missing?

The Banker

Blah Society said...

What am I missing?

The band...

Anonymous said...

and Bennnett's bodyguards.

The Banker

Anonymous said...

The Shiloh people were not at the meeting but Ann did invite them to the next prison board meeting and broached the issue of the county possibly helping them with construction costs and furniture for the house. This house would be for released people..not work release or parolees.

Anonymous said...

The Bethlehem Twsp. facility that NH seeks is for work release inmates/residents and treatment for select inmates/residents with drug and alcohol issues. CEC runs that D and A program at the jail right now and that in house program would transfer to the Beth. Twsp. facility.

Anonymous said...

This house has already been approved by the city of Easton..the remodeling of the house is what the next step is for Shiloh. I believe it would house seven male residents.

Anonymous said...

Will religion be preached at this facility?

I have a huge problem with my tax dollars funding a something like this. It is blatantly unconstitutional.

Anonymous said...

I gather you would rather spend 30 million on a new prison? Get your priorities straight.

Anonymous said...

I agree, a better prison, faster justice system, might actually deter crime. Also providing help inside prison, AA, Narc Anon, etc, might help with reducing our recidivism. Which would lead to long term tax savings.

Oh BTW, Happy Thanksgiving!

Anonymous said...

7 guys in another halfway house, yeah that will prevent the prison expansion. No wonder people don't take liberals seriously anymore.

Anonymous said...

Actually it is 12 and you can call me any name you want! These are the small expense steps we need to take to avoid the huge outlays of tax dollars to build another useless prison. Not only morally right but financially right!

Anonymous said...

Even Angle knows another prison isn't the answer. Better Human and Social services can make a sizable dent in the problem. God gave you a brain..use it!

Anonymous said...

Next time one of these criminals wants to rob me with his stolen gun I'll send him to you for social services.

To think a large urban County can solve the crime problem by Social Services alone is exactly what was stated earlier, liberal nonsense.

For everyone you 'change' at a phenomenoal cost five will shot you. Pull your head out of your posterior and look at the real world. If only we give bread and a hug to Bin Laden he will love us, haha.

You want to make a difference in a serious way? Stop harping on the County to do things they can't afford and get the drug laws changed in Harrisburg.