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Mayor calls Pontiac Prison task force a sham

Posted December 04, 2008 10:00 pm

Associated Press

PONTIAC -- Mayor Scott McCoy is dismissing as a sham the task force formed to help the Pontiac area deal with the impending loss of a state prison that Gov. Rod Blagojevich wants shuttered.

But Blagojevich aide Jill Watson says the task force is making plans to help Pontiac Correctional Center employees who will be looking for new jobs.

Watson says pre-layoff workshops have been scheduled, with more than half-dozen organizations offering prison employees help in their job searches and filing for unemployment benefits.

McCoy says as far as he's concerned, they are empty promises.

Blagojevich wants to close the prison because he says it will save $4 million a year. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees says closing the prison will rob the town of 570 jobs.

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