I am deeply troubled by recent incidents at several New York State Correctional Facilities. Short staffing has led to corrections officers being forced to work double and triple shifts. That is unsustainable and provides for no work-life balance. These men and women are exhausted and deserve more support. Over the past few months, officers at Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, Collins Correctional Facility and Albion Correctional Facility were injured. Inmate uprisings cannot be the new norm. Governor Hochul and the majority leadership in the State Assembly and Senate need to do more to not only ensure their safety but provide for proper staffing levels, as well.
The Governor also needs to listen to the bi-partisan New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways in calling for the State Legislature to increase CHIPS funding by $250 million. The Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program is vital to towns, villages and counties throughout New York State to properly maintain and repair local roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Here in Western New York, we know the beating our roads take during the winter months. Albany lawmakers provide significant funding for downstate public transit projects and State Department of Transportation efforts. With the cost of supplies increasing, these lawmakers need to account for that and increase funding accordingly.
I recently introduced a resolution in the Erie County Legislature urging New York State to end the Green Light Law as it undermines cooperation between federal and local law enforcement agencies. A recent Department of Justice lawsuit confirms what we’ve been saying that this policy likely violates federal law. Public safety should always come first.
It is important that audits continue of several federal agencies to identify wasteful spending. The size of the federal government has grown exponentially over the past couple of decades. Just as we do in private industry, it is necessary to constantly review what works and what doesn’t, and where taxpayer dollars are being wasted. Audits of all levels of government should be a reoccurring process to ensure we are running as efficiently and effectively as possible, providing necessary services while still respecting taxpayers.
I want to thank the many schools that participated in this year’s Valentines for Veterans program. Your heartfelt messages to our local heroes put smiles on their faces. It was my honor to deliver many of these cards to veterans receiving services at the VA Hospital. They were filled with gratitude.
I’m pleased that the Depew Community Center is now officially open. Thank you to the countless volunteers, generous donors and dedicated leaders who worked so hard to make this possible. This new facility is a testament to what happens when a community comes together.
If you have a county related issue, contact my office at 716-681-2071 or by email at Frank.Todaro@erie.gov Thank you for the pleasure of serving you.
