Griffo promises to oppose Ogdensburg prison closing

MASSENA — State Sen. Joseph A. Griffo vowed Thursday to voice his opposition to a proposal to close state prisons, which he characterized as dangerous and nonsensical.

A crowd of nearly 40 Ogdensburg Correctional Facility employees, residents and local officials gathered at the United Steelworkers Union Hall to hear Mr. Griffo rail against Gov. David A. Paterson's proposal to close a multibillion-dollar budget gap by shutting down four upstate prisons, cutting funding to state parks and snowmobile trails and raising taxes.

Mr. Griffo vowed to fight against the proposed closure and emphasized the need for communities across the state to oppose the closure of any state prison, rather than pitting one community against another.