By DARCY WELLS
You couldn’t miss the brightly colored PEF scarves at rally after rally to protest state prison camp closures announced by Gov. Eliot Spitzer and the state Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) in January.
It was a show of unity after members stood up to be heard on how the proposal would affect their futures.
Similar concerns over job security were felt at half a dozen facilities operated by the state Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) as the governor and OCFS announced it’s closing or consolidating six residential centers.
“We are deeply concerned about the announced closures,” said PEF President Ken Brynien. “We understand state leaders are faced with difficult fiscal times and have tough decisions to make. But closing prison camps that already rely on the dangerous practice of double bunking is not the answer. And closing youth facilities may result in young people being placed in privately operated programs that are not always able to address their needs, resulting in greater recidivism and higher costs.”
Prison camps
Within days of the prison closures announcement, rallies that resembled town hall meetings took place.
One of the first was held at the Harrietstown Town Hall in Saranac Lake to protest the planned closing of Camp Gabriels.
“The turnout was very impressive,” said Tom Donahue, PEF labor-management chair at DOCS. “It was standing room only. Everyone including state lawmakers, village mayors and town council leaders, approached the mic to protest the closing. Their reasons varied from the negative impact the closing would have on the town to concern from employees who worry about where they’ll be working next,” he said.
Similar rallies were held at Camp McGregor in Saratoga County, Camp Pharsalia in Chenango County and Hudson Correctional Facility in Columbia County, which have all been targeted for closure.
DOCS has committed to working with PEF to find positions for the displaced employees, but for some relocating can be a hardship.
“We were able to secure in writing a guarantee from DOCS that should the prisons remain open and one of our members had accepted a transfer, they will have the option of returning to the facility,” Donahue added.
Youth facilities
In February, PEF Secretary-Treasurer Arlea Igoe testified at a joint hearing of the state Assembly Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees on the proposed closures and consolidation.
Questions from lawmakers focused on plans for the youth facilities.
“If the state wants to cut recidivism, it should improve the teacher-student and counselor-youth ratios in OCFS facilities, not close them down,” Igoe testified.
The state has proposed closing the Adirondack Wilderness Challenge in Clinton County, Auburn Residential Center in Cayuga County, Brace Residential Center in Delaware County, Gloversville Group Home in Fulton County, Great Valley Residential Center in Cattaraugus County and the Pyramid Reception Center in the Bronx.
PEFs Executive Board Member Ron Greene is the union’s labor management chair for OCFS.
“Approximately 1,000 OCFS-placed youths receive services in private, not-for-profit agencies each year,” Greene said.
“Nearly one-third of them are returned to OCFS facilities for treatment each year,” he said.
“The demand to open beds for youths returned from private programs causes OCFS youths to be discharged before they are ready to be returned to their communities, and this contributes to the high recidivism rate,” Geene added.
Members who work in OCFS facilities have been lobbying their local legislators to keep the youth centers open.
Fighting the closure proposals at DOCS and OCFS are among the top state budget priorities for PEF and will be at the top of the list as members and leaders lobby legislators in March.
