Monday, March 28, 2011

News 7:Future Of Local Prisons Up In The Air

OCF Will it be One of the Six Prisons to Close???
Prisons have been a major source of employment for St. Lawrence County.  Gouverneur, Ogdensburg, and Riverview Correctional facilities employ over 1000 individuals with good paying jobs.  Economic times and a decrease in prison population has led Governor Cuomo to close prisons across the state. 

Northern New York has had many facilities closed, five last year, and the trend has been North of the Thruway.  We can only hope that all factors are taken into consideration when the next 6 prisons are closed.  The legislature has put 3700 beds up for grabs and it will be devastating to some communities that rely heavily on the correctional facilities for jobs. 

Ken Blankenbush, Addie Russell, and Art Sciorra were quoted in the article and each have SLIM to NO say on the closures, actually SLIM just left.  If there is an Ace up anyone's sleeve it better be Senator Ritchie.  She is the only one on the Crime and Corrections Committee with the same leverage that Senator Aulbertine had...one vote that could kill the budget.   I guess that is who I would like to hear from.


News 7 Article     

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

This will tell if Senator Ritchie has the ability to stand up for her district. She will have to put all her cards on the table to protect the last few jobs in her district. Fisher wants OCF!

Poly Information said...

Addie really likes to hear herself talk. She took credit for OCF before and she will take credit for the cracks in the sidewalk if she could.

Anonymous said...

There are 2 prisons here and one in Watertown which also has more votes and does NOT have a Republican Mayor and Council , Fisher works for Cuomo and the Dems are apparently calling the shots . Cuomo trumps Skelos,

Gonna be interesting to watch the political game unfold

Anonymous said...

Addie saved OCF before along with Aubertine. You all voted Aubertine out of office. As it unfolds in ALbany it will be three in NYC one in Western NY and two in NNY.. Which ones is a ????? but it will be two...
This is why Michael Powers wanted Rtichies office in City Hall and a large office to accomodate the whinning COs..
Lets get real about this issue. Prisoners are down beds are empty and we are paying the bills for this. Something has to be cut.. Dry Hill is one for sure but I,ve been told it may be a year before OcF closes wut it will ..
Now Michael Powers can have his cake and eat it too... Kiss Nelsons a== , Ritchies ring and now kiss Addie as she is his only hope...

Anonymous said...

Addie has not got a say. The author had it right about her. She is a lot of hot air.

Anonymous said...

Thats why she does so well at election time.... Imagine if the GOP could muster another canidate from the pathetic group they chose to run against her.. First wannabe Vaugh until it was obvious to all he stood no chance. Martin made him step down and through Forsythe into the race.. Thats hot air... The only claim to fame he had was the fact he said no to the unions in Canton. But lets get this absolutely straight.. He agreed and shook hands and helped formulate a contract. Once he left the negotiating room he changed to a staunch no canidate... Thank god hes istory.. Thats pathetic... Every one goes after Addie but guess what she gets elected time and time again..
Ritchie has no sleeve.. Skelos has made up his mind and she goes with it.. She will get something in return however at some point. She likes her picture taken so she will become a Senator about the middle of 12 when she runs agian. Oh by the way if Doheny dosnt get the GoP nod for Congress he takes Pattys seat from her....

Anonymous said...

Aubertine used his power on the prison before. Ritchie should be able to do the same for Oberg or Watertown. That is if she has any power....
Its a done deal as you say and only time can tell.
In my opinion OCF will close but somewhere late this year or early next but that wouldnt be good for Ritchie.
Addie and Ken will try hard as they answer to us but Ritchie owes Skelos so much she wont be a factor.

Anonymous said...

This year /next year - really matters little .

The economy will NOT be turning around any time in the foreseeable future.

The Economic metrics simply are NOT there , Housing really hasn't hit bottom yet , Jobs , real value added employment that PERSISTS is not happening .

The sheer cost of supporting NOW 3 wars and the resultant detrimental effect on a the dire issue of what HAPPENS when and IF Japan bails on and sells it interests in US debt?

This if it happens could be a further blow to the domestic economy and its ability to generate recovery with a seriously compromised currency . Banks are not lending now, can you imagine what it could be like with a devalued currency and crushing national debt load and Japan bailing out> Scary

Its pretty grim right now so this issue of prisons , and state budget deficits will only worsen in the foreseeable future , UNLESS these situations turn around and stimulate rather than devalue the Gross National Product

Anonymous said...

Oberg.. What do you want to hear from Patty Ritchie for.. She has nothing to say.. Regan will answer for her... Its done its over.. Skelos and the NYC and Long Island GoP has decided.
If OCF is spared its not Ritchie rather it would be Skelos and for the reason of solidifying Ritchies credentials in order to secure a GOP majority next election.
This prison is mearly a pawn in the politics game that goes on daily.
Hear from Ritchie.. Yes imagine that its like hearing Poly Info say something constructive about any Democrat.. Not going to happen..
The only thing Ritchie will do for Ogd. is open her office here at local taxpayers expense and get her picture taken daily. She hides behind Jim Regans articles and smiles for the cameras..
I think she is trying however she is out of her league bigtime. Also haveing a person like Regan with his past on her staff is not good for her in the long run.

Anonymous said...

Anon 8:16 maybe u can shed some light on what Regan was arrested for. If it is soo bad why doesn't anyone say what it is? Was it criminal, dwi, murder, or what?