Here & There Column 5-5-09

State Wrong On Closing Sullivan Annex


Sullivan County taxpayers are going to have to dig a litter deeper when it comes to making up for free work on municipal buildings, volunteer fire department structures and many church and religious properties that is now provided by Sullivan Correctional annex work crews.
The state budget crisis calls for the closing of the annex and the end of the community work crews that work on various projects five days a week.
It all comes down to the simple fact that there will be no more prisoners from the minimum security population annex at the Sullivan Correctional facility to work on various church projects, community facilities, fire department buildings and helping out at various municipalities.
The New York State Department of Corrections says this free labor can no longer be sustained. They are in more simple terms switching the tab from state taxpayers to local Sullivan County taxpayers.
The Department of Corrections will be closing this facility on October 1.
This Sullivan annex closure and others were brought about by Gov. David Paterson's decision, announced in early April , to lay off 8,900 unionized state employees. Union leaders so far have refused to reopen contracts or make concessions, despite the governor's request for "shared sacrifice."
The closure of the Sullivan annex we feel is irresponsible and this entire closure move destroys the community work groups that have helped so many facets of the community.
It will be very difficult to make up all the work these crews provide.
This entire program has not only been a financial-help factor for our communities but it has also proved to be a positive experience for the prisoners.
Let your state representatives know that you are not pleased with this decision.