Russell vows to help prison

CLOSURE PROPOSAL: Assemblywoman says facility, vital to region, must be kept open

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20100128/NEWS05/301289932

By JIMMY LAWTON

JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2010

OGDENSBURG -- Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, promised Wednesday that she would not vote for a state budget that includes the closure of Ogdensburg Correctional Facility.

"It is my No. 1 priority to ensure this prison stays open," she told corrections officers, politicians and concerned residents at the Dobisky Visitors Center.

The key to keeping the prison open is dispelling myths that are being spread by proponents of its closure, she said.

Mrs. Russell said she has been doing her homework and has met three times with the chairman of the Assembly's Committee on Correction to educate herself. Among the rumors she said she plans to dispel is a claim by state Department of Correctional Services Director of Information Erik J. Kriss, who said the facility needs a $9 million boiler system.

"I don't believe for one minute that we need a new boiler built to keep that facility open," she said.

Gov. David A. Paterson, however, is defending the closure of three correctional facilities, including Ogdensburg. He said the prison needs to close because there is a lack of prisoners.

"They were picked because they don't have prisoners in them," Mr. Paterson said.

Mrs. Russell said state prisons remain overcrowded.

"The state is still double-bunking around 4,000 prisoners. The reality is that we were overcrowded for years, and now we are just getting back to normal levels," she said, adding that claims made in Albany that prisons are underpopulated are a "fraud."

Mrs. Russell commended the residents of Ogdensburg for getting organized and coming together with petitions and advocacy groups that are ready to fight to keep the facility open.

"It's wonderful that the entire community has mobilized," she said. "I will be working with Mayor (William D.) Nelson to make sure all of our efforts are coordinated so we can send a message loud and clear that we are not going to put up with people saying our prisons are going to close."

Mrs. Russell said the closure is something that would affect the entire region. She said closing a facility that provides some of the highest-paying jobs in St. Lawrence County would be irresponsible.

"This facility is vital to our community, especially Ogdensburg, but beyond its borders as well. My entire legislative district is affected," she said. "During a recession, we should not be hurting communities even more."

State Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, also has pledged to vote against a budget that would close the prison.

Mr. Aubertine has created a Web site dedicated to fighting the closure, which has numbers that suggest the governor's contention is not true, at least in the case of Ogdensburg. His site says the facility has capacity for 612 inmates, but only 490 beds are being staffed because of consolidation done in 2008. Of those 490 beds, 474 are currently in use.

Mr. Aubertine has started a letter-writing/information-dissemination terminal for this issue, which can be found at www.nysenate.gov/webform/

join-fight-keep-our-upstate-correctional-facilities-open.

Times staff writer Jude Seymour contributed to this report.