Pennsylvania’s Treasury Department is asking for a “detailed” legal justification for public money to be used for construction work on Governor Shapiro’s private residence in Abington Township, according to records obtained by Spotlight PA.
According to an October letter from the Department of General Services and Pennsylvania State Police, the residence is to receive roughly $1 million in security upgrades following the arson attack on the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg in April.
“How does the location in question constitute being public real property?” employees of the Treasury Department asked Pennsylvania State Police, which is underwriting the upgrades.
“Please provide any policies or guidelines related to defining public property to include privately owned residences,” they wrote.
The article states that Pennsylvania police “quietly authorized upgrades to Mr. Shapiro’s personal home” following “a top-to-bottom reassessment of security protocols” for the Shapiro family. According to records obtained by Spotlight PA, upgrades include $311,230.50 for a security system, $81,043.84 for tree trimming, and $288,736 for landscaping and maintenance involving the exterior grounds.
According to state police spokesperson Sergeant Logan Brouse, expenditures related to the security enhancements were required to carry out the duties of state police, which include protecting the governor. State police determined that the enhancements were a better option than alternative plans such as leasing an alternative property.
Last week, Jeremy and Simone Mock, who live adjacent the Shapiro property, filed a federal lawsuit accusing the governor and his wife, Lori, of illegally occupying part of their yard to build an eight-foot security fence. The Shapiros filed a countersuit in which they asked a judge to declare that the property is theirs. NBC10 released a video on Saturday of the Mocks interacting with state troopers in mid-October.
According to Spotlight PA‘s previous coverage, Shapiro alleged that the Mocks “had not used or maintained it [the parcel] since moving into their house in 2017, nor had they voiced any objection to the Shapiros using it as their own.”
In December, the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee issued two subpoenas related to the expenditures. The office of Senator Jarrett Coleman, who chairs the committee, said it has received records from the Shapiro administration and intends to hold a hearing on the matter when the state Senate returns to session in mid-March, Spotlight PA said.
The article notes that the Treasury Department is headed by Stacy Garrity, who is challenging Shapiro for governor in November.
For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.