Letter to Charles Samuels, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons - Keeping Halfway House Out of Tipperary Hill Neighborhood

Letter

The Honorable Charles E. Samuels, Jr.
Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons
320 First St., NW
Washington, DC 20534

Dear Director Samuels:

We write to express our concern regarding the possible siting of a Residential Reentry Center (RRC) and Home Detention Services in the City of Syracuse, New York's Tipperary Hill neighborhood. We are particularly concerned that proposals submitted for this solicitation include siting the facility at 1836 West Fayette Street, in a residential neighborhood with multiple schools and businesses nearby.

Within the City of Syracuse, Tipperary Hill has been undergoing a major resurgence in both its residential areas and commercial corridors and has become an appealing destination for visitors and residents alike. Home to the world-renowned upside-down traffic light, local businesses and government have invested extremely large amounts of money into this historic neighborhood to ensure that it is welcoming to families and business friendly. We understand that the Bureau of Prisons contracts with RRCs, also known as halfway houses, to provide assistance to federal inmates who are nearing release to help with transition and reintegration to society, and also understand the important place these programs have in local communities. However, we strongly feel that proposing to locate a RCC in such close proximity to multiple elementary schools and a Boys and Girls Club is short sighted.

As Members of Congress representing the Syracuse region, we ask that the Bureau of Prisons thoroughly review any application for these solicitations that proposes to site a new RCC within the City of Syracuse, and that any application considered have the support of the community in which it is located. We strongly encourage the BOP to engage with the Syracuse community and to maintain the current RCC location on Erie Boulevard.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator

Dan Maffei
Member of Congress

Source