Mayor: Come To OCFRally On Friday

Ogdensburg Mayor William D. Nelson says that the message to keep Ogdensburg Correctional Facility (OCF) off the state's closure list is being heard in Albany.

After recently visiting with members of the Legislature in Albany, Ogdensburg and its plight to keep the prison open and its 287 jobs in the area is being noticed.

"They hear what is going on up here," he said.

Mr. Nelson along with his OCF Task Force are hoping that a rally Friday will once again get the attention of Albany, the governor, and state legislators.

The goal of the rally, set for 4 p.m. on the steps of city hall, is to have a similar impact as one held in Columbia County that helped saved Hudson Correctional Facility.

Since then, the medium-security prison has yet to be on the list again by the state Department of Correctional Services (DOCS).

Attracting media attention is the name of the game, according to New York State Correctional Officer and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), Randy Page, Northern Region vice president.

"You really want a good turnout," said Mr. Page, "The more people you get out sends a message to Albany that you're not going to take it laying down."

The rally is an opportunity to come out and show that the proposed closure is about more than 287 employees, it's about the entire community, the entire region, according to OCF Task Force member and IDA Deputy Chief Executive Officer Patrick J. Kelly.

"A large turnout makes a statement that gets attention, and that is an important part of this process. Attention, hopefully, brings scrutiny. And that's something we need, because the closer you look at the decision to close this facility, the worse it looks," said Mr. Kelly.

OCF Task Force member Michael B. Powers, who is a correctional officer himself, said that it's important for the community to get involved in the rally.

"We have done everything to inform the community of the potential impact this closure would have in Ogdensburg, and most certainly the North Country. Unions such as NYSCOPBA, PEF, and CSEA, along with the city mayor and his task force, have combated with facts, the commissioner's justifications for closure. We can't do this alone as union members or a task force. We need community activation to unite our citizens. We need to show the state lawmakers across this state that they are being hoodwinked as well," said Mr. Powers.

"We need a large turnout to show our state lawmakers that we exist up here and will not go forgotten any longer," he added.

Mr. Nelson said that the goal is for the rally to be so big that it would "create a traffic jam" and shut down Ford and Caroline streets.

He's hoping that area businesses will participate, perhaps even closing down shop for an hour to allow their employees to take part.

"We need to get our businesses and our employees down there," he said.

The mayor already has his rallying cry prepared - "No more closures! Save our prison!" He used it at Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell's public forum on the prison closure on Feb. 28.