Saratoga, N.Y., – Today, House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik released the following statement:
“Kathy Hochul has turned her back on law enforcement officers again and again especially our hardworking correctional officers. In a scathing report that blasts the Worst Governor in America for putting the rights of violent inmates over law enforcement, the union representing Correction Officers stated they warned Kathy Hochul before their strike that prisons were a dangerous powder keg, a strike was imminent, and that lives of officers were at risk.
Hochul did nothing. The Worst Governor in America took no action and instead chose to destroy the lives of correctional officers and their families," said Chairwoman Stefanik.
The New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOBA) confirms this fact in their post-strike report:
At NYSCOPBA’s Executive Assembly held in Syracuse on February 5-6, a significant number of our members expressed their strong belief that the State had ignored our concerns and would continue doing so…the membership had made their frustrations known.
Shortly after, we showed a videotape of this meeting to a top public safety aide to Governor Hochul during a meeting at NYSCOPBA’s Albany headquarters. We took this unprecedented step because NYSCOPBA wanted the Governor’s office to see firsthand the high level of frustration among the membership. After watching the video, this aide stated that he was going to discuss it with the Governor and express to her that the NYSCOPBA membership needed to see tangible changes immediately.
Still, nothing happened…State’s leaders ignored our warnings that an unsanctioned strike was likely. Regrettably, as at every stage leading to February 17, 2025, State leaders chose to disregard the warnings and failed to address the crisis.
"Strikes commenced across the state, wreaking havoc in prisons. Hochul callously fired an estimated 2,000 Correction Officers throughout the three week strike she knew was going to happen.
The lives of thousands of New York National Guard reservists were put at risk when Hochul forced them to guard inmates with no training. The State pegged staggering strike costs at $100 million per month.
Prison strikes could have been avoided. Kathy Hochul ignored the warning signs out of incompetence or indifference to law enforcement.
The Worst Governor in America must be held accountable. Kathy Hochul must immediately address NYSCOBA’s report: what did she know, when did she know it, and why did she refuse to act?" said Chairwoman Stefanik.
Read more in the New York Post HERE.
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