The Indiana Department of Correction has announced it will delay the closure of the Michigan City Prison beyond its 2027 target date. State Senator Rodney Pol Jr. (D-Chesterton) released the following statement:
“Hoosier taxpayers have already invested more than $1.2 billion in construction and upgrades at the new Northwest Correctional Facility and were given a clear promise that the outdated Michigan City Prison would close,” said Pol. “Now, instead of following through, the state is backtracking on that commitment.”
The current Michigan City Prison is old, costly to maintain and sits in the middle of a residential area that was slated for redevelopment once the facility shut down.
“Keeping it open not only wastes taxpayer dollars but also stalls critical opportunities to bring new housing, new businesses and much-needed growth to a community that borders our National Park,” Pol continued.
Pol also emphasized that state taxpayers should not be asked to foot the bill for federal responsibilities.
“This facility should not be used as a political pawn,” said Pol. “Hoosier taxpayers should not be paying for the operation of the federal government.”
Former Governor Eric Holcomb recognized the opportunity the prison’s closure would create and shared the community’s vision for redevelopment. That vision was backed with hundreds of thousands of dollars in READI funds to begin planning for the future of the site.
“Holcomb had it right,” said Pol. “He understood what this meant for Michigan City and for Northwest Indiana. Instead of undermining that progress, Governor Braun should honor the state’s commitments and let our community move forward.”
You can find Senator Pol’s Letter to the Governor here.
Sen. Pol represents Senate District 4 which encompasses portions of northern Porter County including Portage and Chesterton as well as portions of LaPorte County including Michigan City and Westville. For more information on Sen. Pol, his legislative agenda or other State Senate business call 1-800-382-9467 or visit www.indianasenatedemocrats.org/s4.