Churches Fear Prison Closure Impacts

The Reverend Laurena Marie Wickham Will, the minister at the First Presbyterian Church of Ogdensburg, fears that if the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility closes, churches will be less able to help those in need just when the need will be the greatest.

"Though we are not technically a business, the closing of OCF would certainly have an adverse effect on our church," she wrote in a letter to the Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce, describing the impact the prison closing would have. "OCF not only employs several of our church members and those who attend, but it supports the infrastructure of the community in ways that we could not afford to lose. Churches depend on the donations of members and friends in order to function and operate."

"When the economic situation in a community is bad then churches are the first to see the struggle as donations go down," she wrote. "Our church does a great deal of mission within the community from feeding children when there is no lunch at school in the summer to helping fund and supply regular large amounts of food to the food pantry. The church members also volunteer their time and energy to organize a Food $en$e in our community. This is a low cost surplus food ordering and distribution service."

"Without OCF our community is in great jeopardy of losing the very organizations that offer assistance when times are tough," she wrote. "If the churches are forced to close or stop doing community work due to a lack of contributions there will be less help for those in desperate need, in a time when the need is the greatest."

Marlene Smith,

CEO St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union

"The closing of OCF would have a negative impact on the continued growth and economic structure of the St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union. The employees of the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility have helped create and maintain the success of the St. Lawrence FCU. In addition, the 287 employees affected by this closure may not all be members, but they are family, friends and neighbors of the staff and Board of Directors of the Credit Union. If employees from Ogdensburg Correctional are forced to relocate to different areas of the state, along with the missed opportunity for other "North Country natives" waiting for the transfer they so desperately seek to be "home" again, the assumption is there would be need for them to keep membership or open a new membership in the St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union. The potential loss of membership and strength that allows a credit union to offer lower loan rates and higher deposit rates along with offering various financial services would be at risk, thereby having an impact upon the entire North Country community.

"The St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union realizes the dedication and commitment of these employees of the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility. We have been an integral part of these employees financial aspirations, goals and dreams and we wish to maintain this relationship. The closure would be detrimental both financially and socially to the City of Ogdensburg and the surrounding towns and villages and all businesses and residents of the North Country. Keep Ogdensburg Correctional Facility open!!"

Rhonda Roethel,

America 1 Realty

"America 1 Realty, as every other business in the Ogdensburg area will be negatively impacted by the closing of Ogdensburg Correctional Facility. We have already had to deal with cutbacks as a result of the negative economic situation. The closing of the OCF is just another nail in the coffin. Hopefully the Governor and those in Albany who make these decisions will listen to reason and continue to keep the facilities in the North Country operating."

Jack McGrath,

Owner Oscar's Restaurant

"The proposed closure of the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility will have a significant impact on my business, my employees, and the community. A great deal of my revenues are based on sales to the prisons and many of my regular restaurant customers are OCF employees. The loss of these revenues may put my business in serious jeopardy. This could result in layoffs of employees, no hiring of summer college students, reduced charitable contributions, and potentially the closing of a historic restaurant.

"I have written Albany and have expressed my concerns and displeasure with a proposal that is frivolous and lacking in factual data. They need to wake up and listen to a community that is crying for their help. We need to stand up and fight as Albany doesn't seem to care."

Wayne Miller, Executive Director,

Ogdensburg Public Library

"OCF employees are more than just public library customers who pay the taxes that keep our doors open. Some of our most dedicated volunteers are OCF staff. Loss of OCF will negatively impact the library on many levels.

"I have learned that the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility consistently received the highest accreditation marks in the state. If DOC wants to improve the likelihood that inmates won't re-offend, their efforts will be turned on its head by closing its best prison."

Tom Luckie,

Executive Director, Ogdensburg Boys & Girls Club

"The Ogdensburg Correctional Facility employees impact the Ogdensburg Boys & Girls Club tremendously with their gifts of time, talent and treasures to the club and the youth of the community."

John Winter,

WNCQ/WYSX/WPAC

"As the General Manager of WNCQ, WSYX, WPAC Radio Stations in Ogdensburg I feel it's important to keep the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility open.

"The majority of advertising revenue generated at the stations comes from locally owned businesses that generate revenue from local consumers.

"If there are less local consumers, spending less money, it would have a dramatic effect on my business.

"I implore you to keep the facility open."

Robert L. Seymour, Ogdensburg District manager,

Community Bank NA

"Community Bank N.A. has branch offices throughout the North Country including two in Ogdensburg. We have many customers who are employed at the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility. The employees at OCF maintain deposits with us and borrow for such things as cars and homes. They are important to our business.

The closure of OCF would result in a loss of jobs and income which would force people to leave our area.

It would not only cause a significant loss of business for Community Bank but also for every other business in the Ogdensburg area. Keep it Open!"