West NY News

Senator George Borrello has criticized Governor Kathy Hochul's decision to deploy the New York National Guard to assist with issues involving the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) population and upstate communities. In a statement, Senator Borrello expressed concern over what he perceives as the Governor's disregard for the challenges faced by correctional staff.

"What does Governor Hochul’s tone-deaf press release reveal? It shows she either doesn’t get it or simply doesn’t care about the real issues our correctional staff are facing," said Borrello. He emphasized that this issue is not about financial concerns but rather about safety and labor rights violations that affect state employees, including correctional officers.

Borrello accused Governor Hochul of remaining silent on poor prison conditions and criticized her decision to use the National Guard as a means to counteract a strike by correctional officers. "Instead of stepping up as the leader she claims to be and responding to the reasonable concerns of corrections officers, she has chosen to deploy the New York National Guard as a strike-busting force—a move that’s as cowardly as it is ineffective," he stated.

The senator argued that deploying the National Guard dismisses legitimate concerns of officers and sets an unfavorable precedent for handling labor disputes in New York. He described their strike as a "desperate cry for help" due to challenging working conditions and insufficient staffing levels. According to Borrello, "Deploying the National Guard is a heavy-handed tactic, not a solution."

Borrello concluded his statement by asserting that Governor Hochul's actions indicate an interest in penalizing those advocating for workplace safety rather than addressing underlying issues causing unrest among correctional staff.