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Thursday, December 14, 2017

Brown's Detailed Plans For Gracedale Jail

Lexington jail
On the campaign trail, Northampton County Executive John Brown adamantly denied any plans to build a jail at Gracedale. He accused Lamont McClure, the man who beat him of fear-mongering. He derided my reports, collected over a period of one year, as "fake news." But as I told you yesterday, the truth is that Brown had a secret, two-hour long meeting with Upper Nazareth Supervisors on March 27 to lay out his plans for a jail at Gracedale. He only changed his tune when Upper Nazareth residents became alarmed.They have no interest in politics,but care about their children.

I looked through the 30-page power point that Brown (along with Administrator Cathy Allen, Corrections Director Dan keen, Public Works Director Stan Rugis and General Purpose Authority Solicitor John Lushis) presented to Upper Nazareth officials.

Brown went through several correctional facilities visited by Corrections Director Dan Keen. All had been designed by DLR, which just happens to be the firm he hired with a $72,000 no-bid contract to do a jail study.

Here's what he claimed it would look like from the front.


He also presented an aerial view that includes the new jail and Gracedale.


He told Supervisors that residents would barely be able to see t from the roadway. They'd never know it was there.


There was also a discussion of specific site issues like "integration" with the community, traffic mitigation,night lighting, a nice buffer and the clearance needed for a Medevac helicopter next door.


Minutes of the Upper Nazareth Supervisors indicate that this private meeting was not mentioned for nearly three months, but I've been informed that it was disclosed on several occasions in April.
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12 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 14, 2017 at 4:34 AM

    Why do these people lie so much? They want to know why they lose elections? They should just look in a mirror! Sad!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 14, 2017 at 5:24 AM

    They care only about their children. I don’t think we need a new jail. But the last time I checked, prisoners are kept behind bars with paid guards to keep them behind bars.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 14, 2017 at 7:02 AM

    What about the children of Easton? No one cares about the children of Easton.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousDecember 14, 2017 at 7:15 AM

    Would be a great thing if this would happen....although I doubt anyone in authority now would pull the trigger. They will just continue to kick the can down the road.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousDecember 14, 2017 at 8:39 AM

    Where is "Stickey" Hickey story Bernie?

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousDecember 14, 2017 at 9:17 AM

    This was Keen's baby and he viewed it as his only way to keep his job. He forced this down Brown's throat and is now considered persona non grata by Brown. The election loss is at the feet of Mr. Keen and he's now paying the price.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Bernie O'HareDecember 14, 2017 at 11:24 AM

    "What about the children of Easton? No one cares about the children of Easton."

    The jail has been in Easton for centuries. People are used to it. They move around it knowing it is there. That is in stark contrast to a jail suddenly moving right next to a residential neighborhood.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Bernie O'HareDecember 14, 2017 at 11:27 AM

    I will be writing a story about my friend Jim Hickey, and he is my friend. But having been handed information that John Brown was dishonest when he called the Gracedale jail story fake news or political, I felt that was far more important.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Bernie O'HareDecember 14, 2017 at 11:30 AM

    "This was Keen's baby and he viewed it as his only way to keep his job. He forced this down Brown's throat and is now considered persona non grata by Brown."

    Brown enthusiastically supported this and was all in. I would fully expect Keen to want a new jail so he could brag about it at his warden meetings and the classes he teaches. A good executive is able to see thru the bullshit.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousDecember 14, 2017 at 1:57 PM

    Hell, the county wanted to build it a t Gracedale 20 years ago. I'm tired of the BS on location and the cost keeps going up. Build it already . Other counties built new prisons in rural areas, except the idiots in Allentown /Lehigh County. May I propose an old quarry hole and put a dome over it ! lol

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousDecember 14, 2017 at 3:36 PM

    "continue to kick the can down the road."

    There is no "can" to kick down the alleged road.

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousDecember 14, 2017 at 4:54 PM

    Bernie, with all the consultants bought and paid for with public funds it would be nice to read how much kick backs are paid as a finders fee?

    ReplyDelete

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