Libous promises to keep fighting for Camp Pharsalia
ALBANY – New York State Senator Thomas Libous said Wednesday that he would be making a “last ditch effort” during the legislature’s budgeting session today to keep Camp Pharsalia and two other minimum-security prisons open.
“I don’t have a lot of hope,” the Binghamton Republican said. “But I’m not going to give up.”
Libous said he had filed an amendment to Gov. Paterson’s proposed cut and was anxiously waiting for it to hit the floor.
He said he is particularly unhappy that a ruling made last year guaranteeing employees a year’s notice of any future potential closing of the facility was being completely ignored.
“The legislation secretly created by the three bosses, (Gov. Paterson and Democrats Sheldon Silver and Malcolm Smith) would disregard that and change it back to 90 days’ notice. I’m particularly not happy about that,” he said in an interview from Albany yesterday.
The prison provides well-paid jobs to the Chenango County community, in addition to multiple volunteer hours for the pubic and not-for-profit sectors. Commerce Chenango estimates Camp Pharsalia has an annual economic impact of more than $11 million.
This isn’t the first time the prison has been threatened. Libous and fellow New York Senator Jim Seward have fought to keep the facility from the chopping block over the past five years.
The Governor hopes to save $29 million by closing three prisons.
– Melissa deCordova
“I don’t have a lot of hope,” the Binghamton Republican said. “But I’m not going to give up.”
Libous said he had filed an amendment to Gov. Paterson’s proposed cut and was anxiously waiting for it to hit the floor.
He said he is particularly unhappy that a ruling made last year guaranteeing employees a year’s notice of any future potential closing of the facility was being completely ignored.
“The legislation secretly created by the three bosses, (Gov. Paterson and Democrats Sheldon Silver and Malcolm Smith) would disregard that and change it back to 90 days’ notice. I’m particularly not happy about that,” he said in an interview from Albany yesterday.
The prison provides well-paid jobs to the Chenango County community, in addition to multiple volunteer hours for the pubic and not-for-profit sectors. Commerce Chenango estimates Camp Pharsalia has an annual economic impact of more than $11 million.
This isn’t the first time the prison has been threatened. Libous and fellow New York Senator Jim Seward have fought to keep the facility from the chopping block over the past five years.
The Governor hopes to save $29 million by closing three prisons.
– Melissa deCordova
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