Albany, NY, Aug 05, 2011 — Senate Republicans appear to be changing their minds about how they would like to count prison inmates when they redraw New York's new district lines. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Malone, NY, Jul 21, 2011 — It's been a tough year for the community action agency Comlinks in Malone. It made headlines in February when the former Comlinks director was indicted for theft. And now, its program to distribute to food pantries and soup kitchens is facing steep budget cuts from the state.

This week, Comlinks announced it will need to cut services, and will no longer be making food deliveries west of Massena.

Julie Grant recently visited the Comlinks food distribution warehouse in Malone, and found that the organization is trying to get back to its roots.  Go to full article

Queensbury, NY, Jul 14, 2011 — New York lawmakers have begun the process of reshaping electoral districts following last year's census. Last week, a redistricting task force announced it would ignore a law requiring prison inmates to be counted at their last known address.

That angered civil rights advocates, who argue home districts deserve credit for the prisoners, for electoral representation as well as state aid and services that depend on population. But the change worries North Country representatives whose districts have long counted prisoners where they're incarcerated.

The law passed in 2010 when Democrats controlled both legislative houses and the governor's mansion. The measure has since been challenged in court by nine Republican state senators. Betty Little of Queensbury is a plaintiff in that lawsuit. She isn't commenting on the suit, but she told Chris Morris the loss to her district would be significant, 9,000 to 10,000 people.  Go to full article

May 20, 2011 — Gov. Andrew Cuomo says it'll be several weeks before his administration decides which of the state's prisons to close.

The governor has said six prisons could be closed.

That's causing anxiety across the North Country, where state prisons pump tens of millions of dollars into hard-pressed communities. Martha Foley has more. Chris Morris contributed reporting to this story.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Apr 14, 2011 — Gov. Andrew Cuomo and one of New York State's biggest unions have agreed to labor concessions in the first major union contract of the year. The deal includes a pay freeze for three years and other concessions.

Cuomo praised the Agency Law Enforcement Services unit of Council 82 for sharing in the sacrifice of a state fiscal crisis. A union leader says the deal is in the best interest of members and taxpayers. Karen DeWitt has more on the deal the governor calls "a model."  Go to full article

Apr 08, 2011 — The North Country State Senators are suing to block a new law for redistricting this year. It would count prison inmates in the districts where their home residence is, not in the North Country town where they're held. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Ogdensburg, NY, Apr 05, 2011 — Governor Andrew Cuomo is preparing a final list of state correctional facilities that will close this year as part of his austerity spending plan.

That means prison towns here in the North Country are waiting on pins and needles, hoping their facilities aren't on the list.

Once the governor announces his decision, prisons could close within thirty days.

Brian Mann visited Ogdensburg. He found that people there are worried, but hopeful.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Apr 04, 2011 — Last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York lawmakers reached a budget agreement that closes a $10 billion deficit without raising taxes. Hundreds of millions of dollars will be cut from education, health care, senior programs, education and funding for state prisons.

Groups around the North Country are still scrambling to understand what the consequences will be in their communities. Tomorrow, Brian Mann reports from Ogdensburg on the impact corrections cutbacks could have on the prisons in this region. This morning, he talked with Martha Foley about the larger picture for the North Country.  Go to full article

Ogdensburg, NY, Mar 28, 2011 — It's still unclear how the state budget deal reached over the weekend in Albany will affect the North Country's prison industry. But it appears likely that at least one of the region's correctional facilities will be considered for closure. Governor Cuomo convinced lawmakers to eliminate 3,700 prison beds statewide.

If approved, the plan would give the Department of Correctional Services "sole discretion" to choose which prisons might be closed or downsized, according to a statement issued by Cuomo's office yesterday. The budget agreement requires the governor to "consult" with the legislature before making a final decision.

In an interview with the Watertown Daily Times, North Country Assemblywoman Addie Russell described the prison-cutting plan as "difficult to swallow." According to Russell, it's "likely" that the region will see one of its prisons close.

The Wall Street Journal, meanwhile, is reporting that the prison cuts will be spread through Republican and Democratic districts. If so, that would be a victory for Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, who has promised to protect jobs in upstate communities that rely on the prison industry.

Many Democrats and prison reform activists have pushed to close North Country prisons, which they say are too far from the families and communities of many offenders. This region has already seen two prisons close in recent years -- in Gabriels north of Saranac Lake and in Lyon Mountain, in Clinton County. The state corrections department has also threatened to close facilities in Moriah and Ogdensburg.  Go to full article

Ray Brook, NY, Mar 24, 2011 — Republicans in the state Senate say they've developed their own plan for downsizing New York's prison system. Senate majority leader Dean Skelos says the plan could mothball as may as six minimum security prisons while also protecting upstate communities from job losses.

Skelos was scheduled to present the package to Governor Cuomo yesterday but he declined to release details. He did say that the plan would include cuts to prisons in New York City and would eliminate either five or six correctional facilities.

Governor Cuomo has asked the legislature to approve cutting roughly 3,500 prison beds in the system, without specifying which facilities would close. The state is also offering up to a $100 million to help prison towns recover if their facilities are closed.

Republicans worry that most of the closures could come in Upstate communities, including towns here in the North Country. According to the Politics On the Hudson Blog, Skelos said the Senate plan would target prisons for closure "in both Republican and Democrat districts."  Go to full article