West NY News

Senator George Borrello has called on Governor Kathy Hochul to stop the deployment of 6,500 National Guard members in New York prisons. He urged the governor to negotiate with striking correction officers.

“This crisis demands real leadership, not reckless political stunts that put lives and safety at risk,” said Borrello. He criticized the use of National Guard members, who are untrained in corrections, as replacements for striking officers. According to him, this decision is irresponsible and dangerous.

Borrello's letter highlights reports from National Guard members and their families about poor conditions and inadequate training. A retired Air National Guard officer expressed concern over assigning inexperienced Guard members to oversee violent inmates, describing it as “a powder keg about to explode.”

“The Governor’s claim that she doesn’t understand ‘what the issue is’ is nothing short of astonishing,” Borrello stated. He noted that correction officers, their union, Republican legislators, and officers' families have been warning about prison issues for two years. These include increased violence due to the HALT Act, understaffing leading to extended shifts for officers, and lack of mandatory body scanners allowing drugs into prisons.

Borrello stressed that serious negotiations with correction officers are needed to address these concerns. He suggested starting with repealing the HALT Act.

“The safety of correction officers, National Guard members, and inmates alike is at stake,” he added. “It is only a matter of time before this situation results in serious injury or loss of life."

The senator attached his letter to Governor Hochul.