On the campaign trail, I doubt that Northampton County Executive John Brown is saying much about a new jail. He was going to run on that issue until someone poited out that is a surefire way to ensure his defeat at the polls. So mum's the word. But don't kid yourself. He's looking. And if you are a NorCo resident, it might be in your neighborhood.
You'll learn the details once he's re-elected.
This is unacceptable to Bethlehem Attorney Lamont McClure, who is running for Executive.
I am opposed to the building of a new jail with an anticipated price tag to the taxpayers in excess of $120,000,000.00. We have also learned, although, we cannot verify this as the Brown Administration is pursuing its plan in secret, that one of the proposed sites is county property at Gracedale. This location is unacceptable to me. My opposition does not flow simply from the outsized costs or the terrible site selection alone. Specifically, we do not need a new prison. We have plenty of capacity to meet the need of local incarceration at this time. To my knowledge no one in the criminal justice system is clamoring for a new jail. I served on Council for nearly a decade. After the West Easton facility came on line, the Director of Corrections Mr. Myers retired. After his last Council meeting, I walked out of the courthouse with him. I asked him that now that we have the West Easton facility would we need a to build a new jail. His answer was "not in our life times."Northampton County's jail was first built in 1871 for $200,000. It's been expanded a few times since then, with the most recent addition coming in 2006 at a $22.8 million cost. But in the old jail in particular, things are a mess. Corrections Director Dan Keen called it a "beast" during a presentation last September. County Administrators vowed to be back no later than the end of November to update everyone after identifying funding sources. They never did come back, but Executive John Brown has begun the process of selecting a new jail.
He's done so without involving the courts or District Attorney..
Where will it be? How much will it cost taxpayers? Do we really need a new jail? These are all questions that need to be answered.
Where will it be? - At a recent Council meeting, Brown told Peg Ferraro that the cost of a "high rise" solution in Easton is too exorbitant, and that he's already visited a dozen different locations. He needs a tract of between 40-60 acres. The most logical choice is Gracedale in Upper Nazareth, where the County already owns plenty of land. There would be no need buy, and the infrastructure should be a snap. But the public opposition would be intense, especially to owners of the Eagles' Landing development. Zoning might be an insurmountable hurdle.
Brown has also considered some of the Bethlehem Steel lands in South Bethlehem. Rumors abound that he's also considering Wayne Grube Park, Louis Moore Park (which is suddenly getting water) and Upper Mount Bethel Township. I believe Abe Atiyeh would be interested in selling his facility in West Easton.
No matter where he decides to build, there will be opposition.
How much will it cost? - According to a jail study commissioned by John Stoffa in 2008, the cost of a new jail at a new location would be $130-136 million. Build a seven story monstrosity that Eastonians would be sure to love would cost $128-$132 million.
What does this mean to taxpayers? Glenn Reibman's $111 million bond issue in 2001 resulted in two consecutive years of tax increases of 64%, along with layoffs. Reibman had hoped it would be revenue neutral because $29 million went to economic development. A new prison would just cost you money, most likely a 70-80% tax hike.
As Ron Angle asked back in 2008, "The reality here is, who the hell wants a new prison?"
Do we really need a new jail? - Back in 2008, at the time of the last prison study, it was projected that we'd need 1,300 beds by 2015. There were only 732 inmates when Keen made his presentation to Council last year. And that number is dropping as courts look to alternatives to incarceration. We now have problem solving courts, not warehouses.
So far as I know, Brown has failed to meet with the courts to discuss the trends. He even failed to meet with the judges over e-filing in the Civil Division, and just attempted to ram it through.
Brown's Executive Order. - Brown has signed an Executive Order authorizing Corrections Director Dan Keen to enter into the planning process for a new detention center with DLR Group for the sum of $72,000 over the next three months. His deal with DLR is a "sole source," or no-bid, contract. This way he can avoid the competitive bidding that would otherwise be required under the county's Administrative Code.
Brown said competitive bidding in this instance "is just a waste of time and energy."
Bernie, you may have a scoop here. Some sources have rumored that Brown has in fact decided on a new prison project. He is thinking Gracedale and a couple of other serious sites, one of which is in the slate belt. Supposedly he has the five county council votes lined up. This is all hush hush until after the election.
ReplyDeleteAsk around you may fond that some folks involved with the prison in different capacities are already aware of some of these things.
If 40-60 acres is needed you can forget West Easton. That's larger than the entire borough.
ReplyDeleteCount on it. This plan has been discussed by Brown and his county council ticket.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lot of speculation, such a project would take years, and would need to be in the open. It would be a decision made after a lengthy process. Of course there is money being made by housing prisoners from other jurisdiction, Maybe that is the plan.
ReplyDeleteMr. Transparency is at it again. He can't ramrod a $130,000,000 project without public discourse, debate and input. But of course this is Northampton County wherein nobody cares, [until they receive their elevated tax bill], and voter apathy will keep these same clowns in office. Granted, there are intrinsic problems with the facility, however, other options have to be viewed and brought forth before any decisions should be made. This should be a campaign issue, however, absent McLure, nobody has made this a pertinent issue. Apathetic runs large in NC.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't they build the prison in one of those mega-warehouses. They are big enough to fit any size population. Maybe we can get Amazon to run it. They are already well versed at treating their employees like prisoners. The County can build it in the Rt. 33 TIF. Then the County could get some more money for Farmland Preservation to boot.
ReplyDeleteNew prison not needed. Population is dropping. Just shore up/renovate the old prison and save taxpayer dollars. The place is not long-term. Prisoners can put up with some ancient features for a few months.
ReplyDeleteWe don't need a new prison. Why is this so difficult to understand?
ReplyDelete"Sounds like a lot of speculation, such a project would take years, and would need to be in the open."
ReplyDeleteIt will be, just as soon as the election is over.
Keep working on this Bernie. A new prison seems like a huge boondoggle, and I can't find a single person who wants it. Gracedale (or even worse, Louise Moore and Wayne Grube parks!) is a poor location. Transport back and forth to the courts in Easton would be ridiculous. It would only make a lick of sense if they were also considering moving the courts (and then probably the entire government center) to Nazareth as well...the space and infrastructure is there, but it's a wholly unnecessary expense.
ReplyDeleteBernie 6:42 am seems to have some serious possibilities effecting all the surrounding communities. The release recidivism will have impacts all over the charts for commerce legal and legal.
ReplyDeleteyou can't build at Wayne Grube Park. There is a stipulation in the deed.
ReplyDelete#FakeNews
ReplyDeleteThis story is similar to the Russia story that overwhelms the national news headlines.
Your making up a story about a new prison that nobody else is talking about.
You and Lamont are the only people talking about hoping to draw out "D" voters. You would be better off claiming John Brown is a racist.
You are incorrect. Brown plans to bring a new jail to Norco and was even going to run on this issue until he was told that is political suicide.
ReplyDelete1) In September, 2016 he had Keen give a presentation on the need for a new fail.
Acting Director of Administration Cathy Allen said the County is very serious about a new site, and will be back to Council in 30-60 days once funding sources are identified. She hinted that "some of the people we need to be in our corner will be in our corner." Bob Werner added, "There are people we have met with in the past that have changed. Positions have changed."
https://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2016/09/norco-corrections-director-on-jail-its.html
2) Pursuant to a RTK, it was learned that by April 2017, Keen had spent 39 days on the road, looking at jails.
https://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2017/04/norco-corrections-director-dan-keen-is.html
3) In May of this year, Brown awarded a no-bid contract for a new jail design.
https://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2017/05/john-brown-awards-72000-no-bid-contract.html
4) In June of this year, Brown told Council he has looked at a dozen sites throughout the county and has ruled out Easton as the site for a new jail.
https://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2017/06/lauer-browns-72k-no-bid-contract.html
Because of the impending election, Brown has hushed up. But once the election is over, if her wins, he will bring a new jail without having even consulted with the courts or the DA.
I don't doubt this post or Brown's intention. But let's be clear: there's not going to be a new jail. It isn't needed and it can't be afforded.
ReplyDeleteNo fake news here. Brown was crowing about this before he was told to keep it on the down low. A possible Gracedale sale to fund it could be part of the plan. Is this the scenario?
ReplyDeleteEven a blind squirrel...."who the hell wants a prison" ....McClure runs on defeating Brown's "secret plan to build a prison" and he wins in a walk. Prisons are total political losers...tax dollars spent on a place no one ever wants to be.....
ReplyDeleteBrown's intentions are spelled out clearly in Coubcil's minutes over the last year. He was even going to make it a campaign issue until he was told he is a fool. Now it is on the down low.
ReplyDeleteIf you build it..they will fill it. Brown has it all planned out already but he will deny that fact til he wins reelection along with his fellow R's running for county council. John loves to spend other peoples money and this one will get him a plaque with his name on it when completed..egomaniac that he is. Glad Lamont has dragged the gorilla in the room out into the public square.
ReplyDeleteI recall several years ago when Stoffa was pushing the idea, I was opposed to the idea of supporting a new facility. However, I have never actually been in it, so retreat to a neutral position. If both Dem Stoffa, and GOP Brown administrations have advocated for it, perhaps the need is real. I, like all voters, need more information and justification.
ReplyDeleteTHAT said, the discussion should be open and transparent with the public before an election, and not afterwards. Location, costs, impact on new municipality, and impact on property tax millage rates are all election issues. Doing it under shade is really subtle, de facto, campaign fraud if having already made a decision you are afraid to face the voters, and wait until its too late to do anything.... but the reality is if "hot button" issues can be avoided, and the purposeful absence of GOP candidates in Easton and especially Bethlehem, Republican voters get to the polls and are much more the "lever pullers" (to use a now dated term) than Democrats and independents. Let sleeping dogs lie, and Republicans win NorCo County-wide majorities. Well known and simple recipe.
PS, not saying I would support it there, but another location already zoned for prisons is in Bethlehem Twp north of Route 22. Republicans might be receptive?? But again, it should be a DISCUSSED issue BEFORE the election, not after.
Thank you Bernie, I know they are denying this but you are right, it is there in their own words. Shame is many people vote with Party purity and not common sense. From a multi-million dollar unneeded new prison to a 10% tax increase, this county executive and council has been a disappointment. McClure should be sure he lets people know these guys are only "conservative" in name and not actions.
ReplyDeleteOvem, i'm sure you recall what John Stoffa went through in Bethlehem Tp, and that was for a work release center that was both badly needed and would reduce the pressure on the jail. But stoffa was open about what he was doing and finally settled on West Easton. His facility would cost taxpayers, but nothing like a brand new jail.
ReplyDeleteKeen has made a very compelling case for a new jail. He did so last September. But that is in his own interest. Same thing with the architectural firm hired by the county, which specializes in being a one-stop shop that handles everything, from design to finance.
I know that Brown has made no effort to consult with the DA. He may have consulted with the courts, but to my knowledge, that has not occurred. So he has failed to bring in these important stakeholders.
He has also failed to bring in the biggest stakeholder of them all - the public.
I am far more understanding of the inmate's plight than most and would be a soft sell on the need fora new jail.But I know this idea will be very unpopular. Brown has failed to say where he is looking, although he admitted last year that he had already looked at a dozen sites. He has clammed up bc he knows that if voters find out what he's up to, his re-election is in trouble.
My guess is that the voters will find out.
I have links to several meetings last year and this year, establishing exactly what is going on.
And it will mean a 60-70% tax hike.
ReplyDeleteBefore the treatment center, I thought there was discussion about the current prison and how it was old and overcrowded, but my memory may be rusty. Re Atiyeh's/Stoffas plans, I didn't like them for that small location and didn't want to support it, but I was actually the sole vote (4-1) that agreed that the then current zoning by itself could not prevent. That view ultimately was confirmed by the Commonwealth court if memory serves. Hence, BT eventually did explicitly address "prisons" vs "treatment centers" in its ZO. If allowed by the Commonwealth, you must account for it somewhere, and if your code is silent the developer has a valid claim.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I was being a little mischievous above in pointing out the BT land. Because IF it were be proposed there, no doubt it would become an issue and all the automatic R votes, and sleepy D votes might wake up with a NIMBY backlash... just as it might in Upper Naz (Gracedale) or any other municipality. In other words, if it is needed, the voters wherever it is located will need to be sold on the need, and the County voter on the cost. Using your numbers, 60-70% tax increase might not sit well if not properly sold. Waiting until after the election is shrewd but deceptive.
Maybe they should work with Monroe County and do a joint prison at the Monroe facility on Route 33. There should be a way to may something work for everyone.
ReplyDeleteIt is nearing October, and this is such a low key election. No non-political activist is talking about it, almost non-existent media coverage, no junk mail, no door-to-door that I've seen... only periodic robo-calls. There is absolutely no buzz about this election, which bodes well for low voter turn out and GOP success. I don't plan to vote for Brown, but I think it would take an act of God for McClure to win.
ReplyDeleteOvem, I believe McClure has already sent out tow positive mail pieces to Democrats (I have received both) and has had two robo calls. He has gone door-to-door, as has Brown. He will soon begin sending mailers that draw attention to what he thinks is wring with Brown. This should generate interest. Also, I sense a general dissatisfaction with Trump, who has angered many Dems, including me. I think this will increase turnout and possibly tip the election. But I think it will be close and it all boils down to turn out.
ReplyDeleteWill you point out McClure's flaws as well or just Brown's?
ReplyDeleteI spent years pointing out McClure's flaws. But this is not even a close question. He never posted an armed guard outside his office to keep Council members from a news conference. He has no secret plan to build a new jail. He never balanced a budget on the backs of employees by allowing vacancies to pile up in places like the jail, civil division and even CYF. He never decided unilaterally, to cut health care benefits for county employees, causing a record number of retirements. he never raised taxes ten per cent. He never screwed up the county web page so badly that it is virtually impossible to navigate. He never engaged in government by consultant. he never abused is expense reports. He never lied about what he did in the private sector. He never posed with Trump or Kelly Anne Conway. he never suspended the county's first black captain at the jail for no apparent reason. He never hired a propaganda minister to say nice things about him at taxpayer expense.
ReplyDeleteMcClure's denial of needing a new jail without even stepping into the ancient place tells me all I need to know.
ReplyDeleteI must say Bernie you have really disappointed me..."Black Captain". Why is it always about race. Why couldn't you just say "Captain"? How do you know it has anything to do with his race? Maybe it had to do with his job performance or some other issue that you might just be unware of????
ReplyDeleteThis is not about job performance, but a whistleblower. The reality is that David Collins ins the county jail's first ever black captain. He has been suspended and has been for months, without action being taken against him. It is Collins who first noticed that discipline at the jail for corrections officers is very uneven. If you are black or Hispanic, you are disciplined far for severely than a white officer for the same infraction. o yes, this is about race. Maybe Brown can explain what the hell he is doing to Collins when he attends the Easton NAACP cookout. If he thinks Easton's black community has no idea what he is doing to Collins and how unfair he has been, he will be finding out in November.
ReplyDelete7:46, How would you know whether McClure has or has not ever visited the jail? I doubt Brown spends much time there. In fact, it does not seem as though Keen spends much time there bc he is always somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteKen Kraft is the only council person I trust to expound on conditions at the jail. At least he was at jail advisory board meetings and participated in all discussions.
ReplyDeleteken will be delighted to hear that one person trusts him.
ReplyDeleteThe advisory Board knows all about the new jail location plans.
ReplyDeleteBernie,
ReplyDeleteI've Been at the Jail for over 25 years and have never seen Mr. McClure there?? He does not know the inner workings or the safety hazards that are present. Its easy for someone on the outside to say "What do we need a new jail for?" when they have no clue what conditions are like. I'm sure if he or someone in his family were in the Jail he would have other thoughts on this. As far as Mr. Keen. He is there as much as he can be. Meetings sometimes takes him to other locations ie : Courthouse but most of what you here about him not being there is a smoke screen made up by those who have an agenda. You of course fall right into the rumors. The bottom line is that the County has kicked the can down the road for too long. Do the citizens want another Lehigh county situation where as the Feds will come in and shut down the Jail at the expense of taxpayers. Its time to open up your eyes to the real world.
It is time for you to open your own eyes. That is precisely what taxpayers want. There simply is no political will for a new jail until it is mandated by a federal judge. I would support it, but know it would be extremely unpopular.
ReplyDeleteExpand W. Easton and take a wrecking ball to the old jail..for a start. Do it in phases and lessen the pain.
ReplyDelete