"Frankly, these are concerns that I share."

No Skook Detention

— 3 min read
"Frankly, these are concerns that I share."
Senator Fetterman wrote a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

Yesterday, Senator John Fetterman sent a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem expressing "deep concern and opposition" to the proposed detention facilities in Tremont and Upper Bern Township.

"My constituents are concerned that DHS and ICE made the decision to purchase these facilities without any local input yet expect the residents of these communities to shoulder the infrastructure, public safety, sanitation, and economic burdens imposed on them. Frankly, these are concerns that I share."

On our behalf, he demanded:

  • A briefing on how these sites were selected and why nobody told us
  • A detailed impact assessment covering infrastructure, public safety, public health, and fiscal concerns
  • A commitment that federal funds will cover all infrastructure upgrades and ongoing costs
  • A commitment to public engagement and dialogue with our communities

We couldn't have said it better ourselves, Senator.

Thank you for using your position and influence for Tremont, Upper Bern Township, Schuylkill County, and Berks County.

Read Senator Fetterman's full letter here.

Call Senator Fetterman's office

Call him, thank him, and tell him to keep fighting for us.

U.S. Senator John Fetterman: (570) 820-4088

Here's what you can say:

"I'm from Schuylkill County. I'm calling to thank the Senator for his letter opposing the Tremont detention facility. Our community needs him to keep fighting for us."

That call takes two minutes. And the calls really do matter.

What to do this week

Tremont Borough Council: Tuesday, February 10 at 6:30 PM

If you're a Tremont Borough resident, this is your chance to speak to your local officials. The mayor has already expressed opposition to the facility. Show up, share your opposition, and make sure the Borough Council knows where their residents stand.

The meeting is at the Tremont Borough Building, 139 Clay Street, Tremont.

If you're not a Tremont resident, the Commissioners meeting on Wednesday is your venue.

Commissioners Meeting: Wednesday, February 11, 10:00 AM

The county Commissioners meeting is at the Schuylkill County Courthouse at 10:00 AM on Wednesday. (Why 10 AM on a Wednesday? Why?)

Commissioners Padora and Hess put our concerns on the record last week. Now we need to fill that room and show the Commissioners that we do not want this, and we expect them to fight for us.

Tell them you oppose this facility and make sure they're taking action. Here are some questions you can ask them:

  • Have you contacted leaders in other affected communities to coordinate a response?
  • When will the county commission request a formal impact assessment from DHS?
  • What legal authority does the county have, and has the solicitor reviewed it?
  • When will you have a town hall in the evening so more people can actually comment on this?

You don't need to give a speech. A 30-second comment with a clear question is fine! Make your position clear: You oppose this facility and we can't afford it.

Still waiting

Senator Fetterman stepped up, Rep. Stehr showed up to the town hall, and Commissioners Padora and Hess shared their reservations about the 7,500-bed mega facility that our infrastructure can't support.

We're still waiting to hear from:

  • U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser: (570) 871-6370
    • So far, Rep. Meuser has said that we're "just going to have to work with [DHS/ICE]". Does he mean we shouldn't fight to protect our community? Call him and tell him that his constituents would appreciate a more robust statement than "shut up and deal with it."
  • Sen. Dave Argall: (570) 621-3400
    • Dude, where are you? We know you're alive because you're posting on Facebook.
  • U.S. Senator Dave McCormick: (570) 941-0930
    • Ditto.

Call them and ask them what they plan to do to protect Schuylkill County. Don't take "nothing" for an answer.

Keep going

Three weeks ago, nobody was talking about this. (To be fair, none of us had any information.)

Now, a U.S. Senator is writing letters to Secretary Noem, community petitions are circulating, and our commissioners are paying attention.

That happened because you showed up, you talked about it to your friends and neighbors, and you called your representatives. Some of you started a petition opposing the facility on Change.org.

This is just the beginning of what will be a long fight for our county's future.

Let's keep going.

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