August 14, 2025
By staff
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to answer for her role in a wave of prison strikes that erupted earlier this year—accusing her of ignoring warnings and failing correctional officers.
In a statement released Wednesday, Stefanik said Hochul “turned her back” on law enforcement and let the crisis unfold despite repeated alerts from the union representing correction officers.
Union says warnings were ignored
The New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOBA) shared a detailed post-strike report alleging state leaders—including Hochul—were warned about growing unrest. At a February union assembly, members voiced concerns that conditions were worsening and action was needed.
NYSCOBA says it went as far as showing a video of that meeting to one of Hochul’s top aides. The aide reportedly promised to relay the message directly to the governor—but according to the union, no changes followed.
“Still, nothing happened,” the report said. “State leaders chose to disregard the warnings.”
Strikes broke out across state prisons starting February 17, 2025. Stefanik said the unrest “wreaked havoc” and resulted in the firing of an estimated 2,000 correction officers.
National Guard and soaring costs
Stefanik also criticized Hochul for deploying New York National Guard troops to fill the staffing gap. She claimed the reservists were sent in with “no training,” putting their safety at risk.
The strike reportedly cost the state $100 million per month, according to estimates cited by Stefanik.
“This could have been avoided,” she said. “Kathy Hochul ignored the warning signs out of incompetence or indifference to law enforcement.”
Stefanik is demanding that Hochul respond directly to the union’s report and explain what she knew, when she knew it, and why she took no action.
-Read the story in Finger Lakes 1 HERE.
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