We are not at all happy about New York State’s decision to shutter Sullivan Correctional Facility, which has been an integral part of our community for four decades and employs hundreds of local citizens. This action by the state will uproot whole families and shift good-paying, middle-class, union jobs out of our region, which will be difficult to replace.

We are also extremely dissatisfied with the lack of official notice from the state that this announcement was coming. In addition to the poor planning and communication from Albany, we very much feel this move to close was undertaken disingenuously and should be delayed for at least a year so that all sides can be heard and considered.

Sullivan County and the Town of Fallsburg will be assisting the employees of Sullivan Correctional Facility in any way we can, including by advocating with our state officials, providing needed services to impacted families and offering the full support of our Center for Workforce Development in keeping our citizens locally employed.

Added Legislature Chair Rajsz: “As the wife of a retired state corrections officer whose prison was closed in 2011, I know all too well the hardships associated with these kinds of closures. I feel the pain and frustration of every displaced employee in a very personal way, and I will stand by them as this process unfolds.”

Nadia Rajsz,

Sullivan County Legislature Chair

Michael Bensimon,

Town of Fallsburg Supervisor