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SCRANTON — Local lawmakers and corrections officers plan to plead their case in Harrisburg Monday to keep SCI Retreat and SCI Waymart from closing.

Holding signs that read “Save our jobs,” several corrections officers joined Lackawanna County Commissioner Patrick O’Malley on Friday to send a message to state legislators that they will continue to fight to keep SCI Waymart — and all the prisons — opened.

O’Malley was joined by Mark Truszkowski, Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association business agent for SCI Waymart and SCI Retreat, who called the decision to close two prisons a “political football.”

“I don’t think there was any thought in this (decision),” he said.

The state Department of Corrections announced that a decision on which prisons to close would be made by Jan. 26, with the prisons scheduled to close in June in attempt to shrink a $600 million deficit in the state’s budget. But state lawmakers say the Jan. 26 deadline is not enough time to properly evaluate the impact of the prisons’ possible closure.

According to the proposed plan, two prisons will be chosen from a list of five — SCI Retreat in Luzerne County, SCI Frackville in Schuylkill County, SCI Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, SCI Mercer in Mercer County and SCI Waymart in Wayne County.

“There’s got to be an easier way to balance the budget,” Truszkowski said.

O’Malley voiced his support of SCI Waymart, and its effect on the local economy.

“I’m for keeping Waymart open,” O’Malley said.

Truszkowski stressed the importance of keeping all the prisons opened, saying Gov. Tom Wolf could find other avenues to cut the deficit.

“It’s a dangerous situation,” Truszkowski said. “It’s a powder keg waiting to happen.”

State Sen. John Blake, D-Archbald, held a press conference earlier in the week to speak on behalf of SCI Waymart. Waymart houses about 1,400 inmates. In addition to employing around 700, SCI Waymart is one of only three facilities in the state that provides mental health care to inmates, and Blake said it is “instrumental” to mental health care throughout the state.

There will be a joint hearing in Harrisburg on Monday, and Truszkowski said officers, employees and other law enforcement officials from across the state will travel to voice their concerns to Wolf and the state legislators.

“We’re going to have our voices heard,” he said.

Employees from SCI Waymart hold signs that read "Save our jobs." Brigid Edmunds | Times Leader
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_PRISON.jpgEmployees from SCI Waymart hold signs that read "Save our jobs." Brigid Edmunds | Times Leader

Mark Truszkowski and Lackawanna County Commissioner Patrick O’Malley hold a press conference Friday to discuss SCI Waymart. Brigid Edmunds | Times Leader
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_PRISON2.jpgMark Truszkowski and Lackawanna County Commissioner Patrick O’Malley hold a press conference Friday to discuss SCI Waymart. Brigid Edmunds | Times Leader

By Brigid Edmunds

[email protected]

Hanover Twp. protests closure plan

Hanover Township officials also got involved with the state’s decision to close two prisons, according to a letter released Friday.

Albert Bagusky, chairman of the board of commissioners, signed a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf outlining three reasons — public safety, corrections officer safety and economic impact — why SCI Retreat should remain open.

The job loss, Bagusky wrote, would be a “most dramatic down turn” for the township, resulting in residents leaving in search of jobs elsewhere.

“This would also lead … to a decreased tax base and a higher payment from those remaining,” he noted.

According to state Sen. John Yudichak’s office, the township joins Ashley, Plymouth, Plymouth Township, Nanticoke, Newport Township, Shickshinny and Wilkes-Barre in sending letters to Wolf.

Wolf’s office is expected to make a decision on which two prisons to close by Jan. 26.