Our country’s current climate has not been the most welcoming during these last few months. Pennsylvania is not only a battleground state, but its non-consistency in elections has caused politicians to push even harder in the state. One example is Gov. Josh Shapiro, who has even campaigned on this very campus. But on Sunday, April. 13, everything came to a halt.
What is a governor’s mansion?
Have you ever wondered how politicians live? Well, when they’re not traveling to D.C., governors in their states have their own homes in their state capitals, which serve as comfortable living spaces for the governor and their family and as a place to host important state events, meetings, and receptions. Our governor’s mansion in Harrisburg, PA, stands tall as local community members pass the space.
Built on the Susquehanna River, the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence is a 29,000-square-foot Georgian Style home designed by architect George Ewing. Completed in 1968, it has served as a home to eight governors and their families.
The governers mansion is supposed to be a safe space for our public service workers anfd their families to continue to host communal events and support themsleves and the general public.
Arson?
So, how did we end up here today? As Gov. Shapiro and his family were resting after celebrating passover. He was awoken by yelling from state troopers within his hallway, banging on the door so everyone could wake up. His family evacuated immediately, gathering their belongings and moving to safety.
Gov. Shapiro toured the house the next day. While no one was injured, the governor’s mansion suffered unimaginable damage. After the investigation began, they found the suspect who allegedly committed the crime. A 38-year-old man, Cody Balmer, was arrested in court on charges including attempted homicide, terrorism for entering the home, and arson.
Security footage and the gates surrounding the area have been called into question and failure as they were tampered with and damaged to be able to let the man through. Gov. Shapiro has continued to speak on the incident as continuous updates come out. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, April. 23.
What are your thoughts on this controversy? Let us know on X @VALLEYmag!
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