Clerk Patti Ritchie and Ogdensburg Mayor Bill Nelson will lead the hoopla in a rally Friday to protest the proposed closing of one of two state prisons located in the Maple City.
This clearly sets up a candidacy for Ritchie because why else would a county clerk be involved in this...I assume she is running for Senate, although maybe its the Mayor doing that and Ms. Ritchie is running for Assembly...
Here is the conundrum all have with this issue....If you accept the premise there is a $9 billion shortfall and that the number of inmates is dropping....Then why shouldn't the state shed some prison beds ? To cut spending, don't you have to cut something ?
If so, the argument is make the cuts but do it in someone else's city...or someone else's Senate district.
Is this rally just a partisan deal..or will Senator Aubertine and Assemblywoman Russell be there ?
I went to O-burg a couple weeks ago to join Mayor Nelson in protesting the sugar tax......I don't think I can go up there again just to rally for more spending....Although I don't blame any of the officials for doing it...It's their job.
Ritchie: 5,441 Sign Petition to Save Ogdensburg Prison
33 comments:
End the -ahem- "War on Drugs" and we could close half the prisons. The C.O.s can work at Wal-Mart.
The CO's already get summer months off, by workiong double shifts all winter, they just have to work their construction jobs, the state will save 36million CLOSE IT.
Your right this is just a political stage for Nelson and Ritchie.. They have left Vaugh out in the cold on this one..Bottom line is that the prison will close within the next three years no matter who does what. My bet is that Nelson wants Senate but will loose and Ritchie will want 118 win the GOP nod but loose a close on to Russell. Vaugh will graduate and eventually get a job and eventually have a family and pay taxes like the rest of us. Once he feels the pain he might become a politician. And oh yeah learn how to write his own speaches and letters and not copy Doheny
Ogdensburg has been a funny place to live. Taxes keep going up services getting cut tax base dwindling . The four lane hwy prospect is at least a candle flickering in the wind for us but the past week brought three negative votes in promoting the highway. Mayor Nelson, council men Vaugh, and Powers voted against giving money for the promotion of this hwy. Their heads need to be set straight. Its a no brainer we need this hwy. Talk about party line voting.. Nelson leads and Vaugh and Powers follow.. They all are more interested in promoting their future than that of the City and the tadpayers.. I wouldnt or couldnt vote for any of them agtain for anything. Their entire agenda now is save the prison, save pepsi. By the way Pepsi family has donated millions to Nelsons employer in Ogd so use your head .as to what he is doing. Powers has become a puppet and Vaugh has been one from day one...Save the Prison yeh right...
Heh 703. At least theywork the double shifts to get the days.. Not like teachers that just get it off without working plus all holidays mid winter breaks, bad weather no contributing to medical getting 3 and 4 percent raises in these times.. COs work hard and its dangerous but We just dont need as many of them as we did. We need to revolt about the teachers and their lobby in Albany..
Some facilities need to close but DOCS administration is extremely bloated and it is NOT FAIR that every facility slated for closure is NORTH of the thruway. A closure in St. law county has a much more devestating economic impact than a prison closing in Westchester County.
Patty Ritchie is to blame for all of this. If you go on the Governor's website and look at the Executive Budget DOCS agency presentation (page 323 to be exact), you will see DOCS say they lost money because of Patty's license plate scheme. That money had to be made up some how.. so they to get it from somewhere. Why not Patty's backyard?
Patty Ritchie is also on the record saying our prisons are overcrowded and that Rock Drug Reform was the way to go. If you don't believe me, its all online. Youtube or go to NCPR.
Patty is a lying, craven, opportunistic hypocrite.
Right.. I agree however who cares. Only local official They have more voting power thus more influence. Our state officials are not at fault for this problem but some poor quality local officials and canidate wannabes would like to make you think that way. Have anyof you noticed all of the crying and yelling has any substial solution be offered by anone in Ogdensburg. Anyone. Now I read this AM where more cutbacks at Gouverneur and Riverview in Ogd wil take place.. At least someone is trying to cut my taxes. Im not sure if Ritchie or Nelson is posturing the most. But it certainly true Vaugh has had nothing to say or do with this problem...
9:48 am I would think the license plate would be a state issue not a docs issue. Good way to past the blame on to someone else. We should all keep our mouths shut maybe the City Democrats will not take anything else. Parks, toursim, correctional facilities, now they are taking down bunks in 17 north country correctional facilities, someone better start fighting.
Now the Dems passed legislation to release Violent felons early. That is beyound my comprehension.
Someone needs to step to the plate and Mrs. Ritchie has been a voice of the ppl in her district.
Poly Information
Typical GOP BS.. Rithie is no politican . Her popularity does not make her any solution to anything. Nelson will chant today and make points and some exciting rah rah speaches but to no avail. I,ll bet Aubertine and Russell will be there but it dont matter. Damed if they do and certainly dammed if they dont. I overheard a pathetic individual scorning her the other night because of her absence from the last one forgetting she had a death in her family. He said that didnt matter she had a responsibility to be there... What a pathetic individual. A. Russell and D.Aubertine will not support any prison closing in this district. I wonder if N. VAugh will give a speach today and will he have Doheny prepare it for him. Speak of pathetic..
I hope this prison dosnt close however someone give a viable solution please not just hot air and cheap politics talk....
It just goes to show the Downstate and Upstate issue is alive and well. The commissioner of corrections just announced another round of dorm consolidations..
All Dorms are north of the thruway, twenty two dorms in 17 regional jails . Watch out Dry Hill Correctional we in Ogdensburg have your back!!!
Mayor - why fight the sugar tax? If we have to raise some taxes (and cut some budgets) to make up the gap, why not tax things like gas, sugar, booze and smokes? Those all create secondary costs in healthcare and pollution and we would all be better off using less of them. I like to drive my big truck a little too fast, hit the bottle and eat at the McDs drive through once in a while - but all of those things are net negative for the economy and community in a number of ways. I aint no saint, but if we need some revenue, aren't sin taxes a better option than property taxes and increased license fees?
Close it period ! The Mayor and vaugh remain clueless , they are part of the problem with what is wrong in Ogdensburg the capitol on TAX exempt property . The 27 % of us that pay 100% of the tax burden have been crucified by these fools . git rid of them in the next election , close the damn prison , and right -SIZE THE CITY , SCHOOL DISTRICT AND COUNTY PAYROLLS AND let the taxpayers keep more of their hard earned money
Sin Taxes.....where does it end...The rationale that we can have Big Government and still cut taxes for 95% of working families....You know the drill..make the rich pay and the sinners...
NO! If you want current spending then man up and advocate we all pay through broad based taxes....
Higher income and sales taxes or less government spending....
The sugar tax folks are selling a fraud....
Micahel Powers says.. Remember a few years ago a local legislator approached the state about the prison being turned over to the County. The talk at that time was this prison was destined for closure.. No the local mayor Nelson and the editor or the local paper who runs the city crucified this man about the issue.. A few years later closure is luming but now the County wont take it over they Built a new 38 million dollar jail that we can pay for over the next several years Our local leadership is and has been very shortsighted for years. Your vote the other night against promoting the four lane hwy speaks volumes for you and Nelson and his parrot Vaugh. No vision.. You all are using this to promote yourselves. This prison will close in the next two to three years and thats a fact. Lets get on with the Future of Oberg.. I,ll bet that three quarters of the crowd today is school children with less than a quarter concerned taxpayers..
Point well taken 11:53
The prison initiative was thrust upon the public 28 years ago by a small group of insiders with a "vested interest " who saw this as the only salvation for Ogdensburg .
Contrary opinions were squashed , silenced or ridiculed at the time .
The social and economic cost of this short- sited thinking has turned the North Country and specifically Ogdensburg into a prison culture ,replete with parallel social problems.
Moreover this has limited the initiation of other PERMANANT private sector economic development .
Now that the state is broke and the "monied" class is heading for the exits to OTHER states or regions this is coming home to roost .
Oburg put all its eggs in the "State's goody jar" and failed to sufficiently diversify and implement permanant PRIVATE sector development in sufficient numbers and tax revenue streams to offset declines in public sector budgets -- so it will be painful.
Many suspect that ultimately the prison will close even if miraculously saved for political short term gain at the 11th hr to SAVE the area's DEMOCRATIC reps at election time
The Burg will pay for its lack of creative , dynamic and bold leadership.
No doubt it is about downstate and upstate issues. Downstate is the Bull and we are getting the horn. Closure are all Northern New York, time to fight for a little equity.
Just goes to show you what a member of the majority party can do for the area. I agree with 12:39 pm this will be an 11th hour save for the slipping area Dem. Reps. It is a shame we need to play with so many families in the name of politics.
Poly Information
I,m glad you all agree its going to close. Whether or not its Gop or Donkey its going to close if not now in the very near future. Now would be better. Oberg needs to get some local leaders with insight not ones who vote no on important issues like the fourlane hwy. Ogdensburg will benefit greater than anywhere in SLC with a road like this so why do people like Nelson, Powers and Vaugh vote no on promoting it. Typical though wave for people wh dont care
the facts of life are NNY CAN NEVER OUTVOTE DOWNSTATE NOR MATCH IT'S ECONOMIC ENGINE , NOR GENERATE A MINOR FRACTION OF THE TAX REVENUE GENERATED BY DOWNSTATE SO OF COURSE THEY ARE THE STRAW THE STIRS THE DRINK
TYhe voting power of 10 square blocks in NYC out muscles all the votes in NNY in sheer numbers of voters-- them's the facts
Another way to look at the prison closing, It will remove some of the riff-raff, that comes with prisons and infects the way of life, in the areas they are located. But, the bottom line that folks have a tough time chewing; start cutting spending,start reducing taxes,let the free-market forces,provide us jobs, and ween ourselves away from the government's bosom. High taxes (and gov't.)is what helped drive businesses away.
Hes right it will help remove the riff raff and possibly we can remove the incompetent local politicans.. I did some checking after reading your blog today and its true. Nelson Powers, Vaugh voted against promoting the four lane hwy the other night. To busy promoting themselves in this prison thing. How can they vote to put in a new street with taxpayer money when its notneeded and then refuse to endorce an effort to promote a four lane hwy that will benefit their city more than anyone. Thank god it passed thanks to Morley,Cilley, Skamperle, Sholette.... Nelson and his puppets must go
Strongly agree !!!
It's too bad for all you ignorant people that post on this blog
Its worse for you that read the blogs and see the truth and dont comment
Just for your information. She was at the rally. Did not present her petitions or speak.
Poly Information
You are making outright lies
9:46 pm , this is why I use my name on this blog; I am not afraid to say ,that I believe in what I'm saying, nor, not afraid to say,what I believe in.
Believe it or not one of the strong points of a blog is to offer an opportunity for a disenting opinion .
In the case of the prison the MSM in Ogdensburg seems extremely biased on this issue and has been since the prisons were initiated.
There was NEVER an objective review of any potential downside to what negative effects an over-concentration of prisons has on private sector economic development.
Quite to the contrary the rush to sell itself short has lead to the current dilemma . I have no issue with CO's rallying but simply ask WHERE WILL THE DEFICIT BE ADDRESSED MANY state agencies and have to be cut to make up a NINE BILLION DOLLAR HOLE . What are our priorities ?? Schools ,? Hospitals? Nursing Homes? Social Services , Vets ? Police , Fire or Prisons ? Which are the least likely to be high on the priority ?
That seems to be the problem we can't restore everything SOMETHINGS have to be cut and cut NOW
I use my name when speaking Publicly and on most other blogs however here in Oberg you have to be cautious of retaliation from local authorities. It happens here In Oberg often. I have seen nor have I printed any lies rather I and others have given their veiws. If they hurt because of the truth in them then print some blogs of your own to protect what you believe in. I speak of weak leadership show me different. I dont speak of any party because I try and vote for the canidates I feel will serve us best. So far I see none worth consideration. I speak of taxes in Oberg possibly you dont pay any, I speak of the past in Ogberg possibly you were not here. I want to speak of the future in Ogdensburg. There is none unless we the people take back the city....
These blogs are often an antidote to localized yellow journalism and "home cookin" style political yeasaying .
Mayor Graham 's blog in particular is insightful, informed , humorous and offers the possibility for thoughful critique
Close it down, All the CO's have second jobs anyway, This is an issue the local pols can do nothing about anyway, cut spending, cut taxes, maybe people won't leave, Now where's my taxpayer supplied CO uniform.
It is probably true that OCF could be closed and it would save money. Nobody would lose their jobs and the only people to be hurt would be those who have been trying to transfer home before they retired. Worse things have happened.
But you do have to ask yourself. You have a Corrections Bldg in Albany with so many political appointees in it people don't even know what their job is. Most are six digit guys, and most show up for work. Most are nice people, even fine people. But if you fired half the people in the building, the prison system would hardly feel it.
So where do you want to start, taxpayers? Your schools, prisons, agencies, everything, is full of people milking you hardworking taxpayers each and every day. They have a professional army staffed with people whose job is to cry and complain about how hard it is to do what they do. They usually do it for children, your safety, your mother and dad's safety, the environment, God (sorry, God not allowed), and little animals. Bottom line is, you have listened to this for too long. You have to stop believing what you hear and make decisions. It really is about your kids.
I think the executive budget identifies the priorities and it seems that the prison cut is right on target , School district aid will also be cut ,hospitals and nursing homes are also targeted and every State agency in the STATE OPs Portion of the budget has also been cut , The Aid to localities section of the budgetr has also been cut -- so the point is THE PAIN has been shared so far -- IF THE PPRISON IS SAVED , other will have to ABSORB disproportionate share of the pain .
SO As difficult as it is the prison seems to be on target due to declining prison populations , age of the infastructure and relative cost to upgrade aaaand the fact that )Burg has 2 other prisons Riverview and teh SVP prison and the Psych Center
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