http://www.week.com/news/local/18665784.html

State may close Pontiac prison

5/5/2008

WEEK.com

Jeff Muniz

More devastating news today for a local town that was devastated by floods earlier this year. The Governor has announced plans to close the Pontiac Prison by next February.

Workers say the Governor is playing politics again with their livelihood. This is the second time in four years where Governor Rod Blagojevich has called for the closure of the maximum-security prison in Pontiac.

One worker believes the prison will ultimately stay open, but the Governor and Department of Corrections are using it as a bargaining chip since the worker's contract expires in July.

He said, "It's all to get us scared and say please don't take our jobs. But, we'll be willing not to take a raise and that's exactly what's going to happen."

The scare-tactic worked on Mayor Scott McCoy who with State Senator Dan Rutherford are ready to fight the Governor again.

McCoy said, "Even if it doesn't happen, it's something that gets people worried and they don't need that right now. And, I don't think he takes that into consideration. Unfortunately for our Governor, we're fly-over country."

The plan changed today when a Joliet prison slated to close was kept open. Now, Pontiac will close with its 1,600 plus inmates going to a recently built facility in Thomson.

The mayor says the prison is one of the three largest employers in Pontiac with more 500 workers.