“After today’s deliberation on the public protections and general government budget bill, while there are some good measures in this bill, such as retail theft provisions and minor Tier 6 reform, this bill, unfortunately, contains a total of five correctional facility closures. As of this date, we have not been given any insight as to which five correctional facilities in the state will be closed. We have yet to deal with the two North Country facilities that have been closed recently. Instead of supporting corrections officers, safeguarding jobs and encouraging economic growth, the state continues to show its real priorities are not hardworking New Yorkers, but the continued decline of our local upstate communities.”

“I cannot support a bill like this, which is why I voted ‘no.’”