In Gov. Kathy Hochul’s recently proposed executive budget, the potential closure of five correctional facilities in New York state has sparked widespread concern among residents and local authorities in our North Country communities. The impacts of the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility closure—heightened unemployment rates, displacement of families and financial instability—will be repeated should more facilities be forced to shut their doors. The potential impact of such closures on the already vulnerable economic landscape of St. Lawrence County has prompted me to intensify efforts to prevent further closures and mitigate adverse effects on our community.

The closure of the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility resulted in the loss of 268 jobs and a substantial $25 million payroll. This has had a significant impact in a region where the current unemployment rate is 18% higher than the state average and more than 48% higher than the national average, according to data from the NYS Department of Labor. The closure has exacerbated economic hardship and widened the disparity between the North Country and the rest of New York.

Furthermore, the facility’s closure has added 525,000 square feet of vacant state-owned space in St. Lawrence, a county already grappling with more than 500,000 square feet of abandoned state-owned space. Many of these buildings have been left unused for decades, underscoring the redevelopment challenges in the area. This points to a more significant issue of underutilization of resources and a need for a strategic plan for reusing and redeveloping these facilities.

The closure of an additional correctional facility, according to multipliers identified in a Cornell University report, would result in the loss of approximately 466 jobs and a staggering $42.6 million in lost payroll. Considering the dire economic conditions in the county, such losses would be insurmountable, further exacerbating economic distress in the region.

Beyond job losses and underutilized real estate, the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility provided 40,000 pounds of produce for food pantries, senior citizens and others in the area through a community garden. Simply eliminating these facilities removes the multifaceted value they offer to the community beyond their primary function. In response to these challenges, Gov. Hochul has raised the question of repurposing these facilities for alternative uses, such as substance abuse treatment centers or residential facilities. The potential for creative adaptive reuse of these buildings has become a focal point for advocates seeking to preserve the economic and social fabric of the affected communities.

As your state representative, I will continue to be a vocal proponent of retaining these facilities in operation. Recognizing the plausible impact of an additional prison closure in St. Lawrence County, I have emphasized the necessity of preserving these jobs and economic stimuli, particularly in a region already marred by staggering poverty and unemployment levels.

I have communicated with the governor and stressed the importance of actively maintaining, marketing and redeveloping the current decommissioned correctional facilities that have already been closed in the North Country. As the discussions around the potential closure of the prisons continue, I will work with local elected officials, county legislators, the board and staff of the Industrial Development Agency to ensure economic resilience, job retention and community well-being. I stand prepared to be a partner in preserving our communities.

Assemblyman Scott Gray

R-Watertown