November 20, 2025
FROM ASSEMBLYMAN PALMESANO’S OFFICE: Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) is voicing his displeasure at the Hochul administration’s plan to close yet another prison. It was announced that Bare Hill Correctional Facility in Franklin County will close in March, with only slightly over three months’ notice. Collins Correctional Facility in Erie County will be downsized.
“At a time when inmate-on-staff assaults as well as inmate-on-inmate assaults continue to skyrocket, the decision to close another prison is not the answer and simply unfathomable, especially with only slightly over three months’ notice. What this will do is continue to hurt staff morale and cause other facilities in our state to become even more overcrowded due to the influx of inmates from Bare Hill. The continuation of these prison closures over the years, coupled with failed and dangerous policies like the HALT Act, that have taken away important tools and resources from our correctional officers (COs) to safely do their jobs while also keeping other inmates safe, has only exacerbated the dangerous powder keg environment inside our prisons,” said Palmesano.
Palmesano also argues that this is just another example of Kathy Hochul leaving correctional officers out to dry.
“Time and time again, Gov. Hochul has proven she is incapable of handling the dangerous safety crisis happening inside our correctional facilities. The solution isn’t to just close more prisons and hope for the best. If she is serious about tackling the staffing crisis in our prisons, she would provide our COs with better pay and benefits, including passage of the Death Gamble legislation, which she has vetoed twice. This legislation would help ensure the pensions earned by our dedicated COs are secured for their spouses and families. In addition, she should push for a full repeal of the HALT Act and apologize to the officers she blackballed after their work protest that occurred earlier this year,” concluded Palmesano.
Assemblyman Palmesano represents the 132nd District, which includes Schuyler County, Yates County and parts of Chemung County, Seneca County and Steuben County. For more information about Assemblyman Palmesano, please follow him on Facebook.
