Pennsylvania’s five living former governors—Ed Rendell, Tom Corbett, Tom Wolf, Tom Ridge, and Mark Schweiker—and six first ladies are teaming up to raise money to restore the Governor’s Residence following the arson attack in mid-April, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
The 29,000 sf, 57-year-old residence will host a private fundraiser on Monday. Approximately $500,000 in repairs are needed that are not covered by insurance, The Inquirer said.
Each of the governors plans to make a donation to the Governor’s Residence Preservation Fund, which is housed in the state’s public-private partnership, Team Pennsylvania.
“Team Pennsylvania — and the preservation fund itself — has faced scrutiny because, as a nonprofit rather than a government entity, it does not face the same level of transparency over its funders,” The Inquirer noted. Likewise, Governor Josh Shapiro of Abington “has faced criticism for using the private fund to represent Pennsylvania at major sporting events, such as the recent Eagles Super Bowl win.“
In March, the Commonwealth Foundation criticized Shapiro’s social media content and its alleged $1 million+ cost via “Shapiro’s Self-Promotion Madness” (a parody of the NCAA’s March Madness).
On April 23, Shapiro published an opinion piece in The New York Times titled “Finding Moral Clarity After an Arsonist’s Attack“. An excerpt:
I believe in the rule of law, and for the rule of law to work, prosecutors and law enforcement officials need to be able to do their jobs and investigate without fear, favor or political pressure. It is not my job to opine on what the motive was or what the charges should be.
As has become typical, people rushed to assert their uninformed opinions to get likes or make a headline or suit their own narrative, seeking some solace or validation that whatever motivated the arson suspect and his actions would suit their view of the world.
Ultimately, prosecutors will determine what motivated this act of violence, and we trust them to do their important work.
But as I said in Butler after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump and as I said in Altoona after the police captured the individual who has been charged with the murder of the UnitedHealthcare C.E.O., this type of violence has no place in our society, regardless of what motivates it.
Four days before the piece was published, President Donald Trump called Shapiro about the attack.
Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, was arrested and charged with attempted homicide, aggravated arson, and terrorism offenses for the attack. He faces upward of 100 years in prison.
Photo: Commonwealth Media Services via AP