Westfield reentry facility to house ex-prisoners cancelled over community concerns

Developing news out of Westfield this evening regarding the proposed re entry facility that parents have been protesting for weeks now. The company announcing earlier today that that project has been canceled and 22 news reporter Claire Overton joins us live now in Westfield with reaction from local parents. They can see our parents. We spoke to say they are excited after hearing the news today that the proposed re entry facility here on South Hampton Road has been canceled. They say it feels good to know the community can come together and have their voices heard. We can kind of all like take a sigh of relief. Westfield parents who have been protesting the proposed re entry facility say it feels like a weight has been lifted off of their shoulders after the company in charge community resources for justice released a statement saying quote C. R. J. Will not move forward with the residential re entry program at the South Hampton Road location. Anything that has to do with the safety and protection of our kids to know that that burden has been relieved. I think it's one of the best news uh information days I've ever gotten. I'm happy that they made the right decision not only for the community but for the people that they serve as well. Since the facility is described as an educational facility, C. R. J. Mentioned that they made this decision despite Massachusetts state law allowing for such programs to be cited without local approval through the Dover Amendment which states municipalities are restricted from using local zoning ordinances to prohibit or heavily regulate land or structures used for educational, religious, agricultural or nonprofit child care purposes. Parents said they agree these facilities are important but believe that zoning needs to change for cases like this. While Westfield might have won this fight today, the Dover Amendment still exists and it means facilities like this can still go in and proceed forward in other communities. He said they are working with the Westfield state delegation to bring their concerns to the state level and hopefully create change protecting the youth. Hampton County Sheriff Nick Kochi and the office of state Senator john Villas have also both released statements saying they are pleased with the news. You can find their full statements on our website working for you live in Westfield, Claire Overton 22 News.