NYSCOPBA requests 'urgent meeting' with state over 'workplace crisis'
In a letter from New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), the union said there are a number of issues affecting the their members' safety, working conditions and well-being.
'There is nothing good in that bill': Retired deputy superintendent speaks out against HALT Act & striker firings
Some of these issues include staffing shortages, workplace conditions, the implementation of 12-hour shifts, scheduled regular days off and vacation periods.
The union would like to meet with Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) because these and other issues have 'reached a critical point following the recent organization of a grassroots strike organized by NYSCOPBA members to highlight unsafe working conditions.'
The strike ended up leading to the firing of 2,000 correctional officers. A recent announcement regarding the early release of inmates up to 110 days before the end of their sentence is also compounding the issue.
The early release of inmates undermines public safety and sends a troubling message to crime victims who continue to live with the trauma caused by those incarcerated and only highlights DOCCS failure to face the on-going consequences of staffing shortages in our prisons.
NYSCOPBA President Chris Summers
NYSCOPBA officials added that the state has 'been largely ignored by the Governor's leadership and DOCCS.'
'It's time for the State and DOCCS to recognize the importance of these concerns and work together with us to find lasting solutions,' Summers added. 'Temporary, short-sighted solutions of the early release of inmates is not a long-term solution needed to address workplace violence, staffing shortages and the inability to recruit new officers. '
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
D.C. Dispatch: Iowa legislators cheer fentanyl reclassification, federal spending cuts
President Donald Trump signs the HALT Fentanyl Act, July 16, 2025, in the East Room of the White House. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley is second from the right. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok) This week in the nation's capital, President Donald Trump signed a fentanyl reclassification act led by Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, Iowa legislators cheered the passing of a federal rescission bill through Congress and House members helped send a $832 billion defense appropriations bill through the GOP-led chamber. The Grassley-led HALT Act permanently reclassifies fentanyl-related substances as a Schedule 1 drug. In February 2020, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued a temporary scheduling order reclassifying fentanyl-related substances to Schedule 1. Congress has since extended this order a total of 10 times. The act has received criticism from advocacy groups such as the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights stating that classwide drug rescheduling may exacerbate incarceration rates and sentencing. The president's signing of the HALT Act Wednesday was attended by several Iowa officials including Grassley, Attorney General Brenna Bird and Rep. Randy Feenstra. 'The HALT Fentanyl Act is now the law of the land, marking a major victory in America's fight against fentanyl,' Grassley said in a press release. 'By permanently classifying fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I, the HALT Fentanyl Act will save American lives and prevent deadly fentanyl knockoffs from making their way into Iowa communities.' 'This bill is a huge win for Iowa and the entire country,' Bird said in a press release. 'As a mom and prosecutor, I am deeply aware of the devastating effects fentanyl has had on our communities. And as Attorney General, I hear about this issue from Iowans regularly. 'I applaud President Trump for signing into law the HALT Fentanyl Act and taking decisive action to keep fentanyl and other poisonous substances out of our country.' Feenstra stated. 'In conjunction with our work to secure the border, this legislation will help law enforcement confiscate dangerous drugs, combat the drug cartels, and save lives.' Rep. Ashley Hinson stated: 'This bill will help end the scourge of the opioid epidemic that has taken too many American lives — we will continue working together to get dangerous drugs off our streets & ensure dealers are punished for their crimes.' Rep. Zach Nunn also stated he 'proudly cosigned' the HALT act for its ability to 'crack down on traffickers,' keep 'deadly substances off our streets' and ensure consistent penalties for fentanyl distributors. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks stated in a press release: 'As an original cosponsor in the House, I was proud to help lead the fight to get this bill across the finish line. With this law in place, we're going on offense. We're giving law enforcement what they need to crack down, take control, and stop this poison from claiming more lives.' Miller-Meeks also reintroduced a bipartisan bill Thursday requiring social media companies and other communication service providers to alert law enforcement officials when illegal drug distributions occur on their platforms. All of Iowa's delegates voted in favor of Trump's rescission bill to axe $9 billion in previously approved funding for programs including the U.S. Agency for International Aid, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and National Public Radio. The rescission bill passed both chambers of Congress Friday with a vote of 51-48 in the Senate and 216-213 in the House. This marks the second time in over three decades Congress has approved a presidential rescission request. Ernst praised the cuts to USAID, citing 'abuses' such as an alleged $148,000 sent to a pickle-maker in Ukraine through USAID and $20 million spent on Sesame Street programming in Iraq. 'If we are ever going to get serious about our debt crisis, Congress needs to pass a rescissions bill like this every single week,' she stated in a press release. Hinson responded to the bill with a statement on X: 'President Trump is the first president to actually deliver on real savings for the American people and end the culture of wasteful spending in Washington.' Grassley took to X as well to state 'Fed govt is $36 TRILLION in debt Last night Sen Republicans voted to roll back DC's out of control spending.' He added that Republicans plan to build on the provisions in the 'big, beautiful bill' going forward. Miller-Meeks called the rescission cuts a one of two 'big wins for the American people' in an X post. She also cheered the passing of a defense appropriations bill increasing military spending. Democrats in both the House and Senate voted against passing the rescission bill. Several Democratic legislators criticized the rescission bill for cutting funding from public broadcasting that will impact rural news sources and withdrawing U.S. support from countries in need. Ernst led an amendment to the defense appropriations bill to require all defense spending be posted on the public website This amendment will directly target 'Other Transaction Agreements' which are flexible spending agreements not subject to standard acquisition laws and requirements. 'I am ending Pentagon bureaucrats' game of hide and seek with your tax dollars,' Ernst stated in a press release. 'Americans have a right to know where their hard-earned dollars are going. I've long been working to make the Pentagon more transparent and accountable and will continue to work to review the hidden receipts.' The expansive defense bill passed through the House with a split vote of 221-209 on Friday. It allocates nearly $832 billion for provisions such as: Basic pay increase for all military members by 3.8% starting 2026 Codifies Trump's executive order to end military diversity, equity and inclusion programs $13 billion for missile defense and space programs $7 billion for 'classified space superiority programs.' $2.6 billion for hypersonic missiles. $1.15 billion for counterdrug programs $500 million for Israeli Missile Defense $500 million for Taiwan Security Operative Miller-Meeks responded to the provisions in a press release stating: 'This bill gives our troops the pay raise they deserve and the resources they need to defend this country.' The bill moves to the Senate for reconciliation. Cedar Rapids is set to receive $25 million in federal funding through the Grassley-backed Infrastructure and Jobs Act of 2021. The funding is allocated for a 'flood resiliency project' and road improvements on highway I-380. 'I'm happy to announce that the City of Cedar Rapids is receiving a $25 million award to improve its flood resilience and infrastructure,' Grassley said in a press release. 'You can imagine how important this funding is for Cedar Rapids, after the city has been hit by devastating floods. These federal dollars will be put to good use to strengthen the Cedar Rapids community.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Bloomberg
18-07-2025
- Bloomberg
One Big Beautiful Bill, Wine Tariffs, Wearable Technology, Monetary Policy & AI
This week, Former Treasury Secretary Lawrence H. Summers says President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill cuts many Americans' safety net. And we take a look at how the US wine industry will be threatened by tariffs that are intended to protect domestic businesses. Plus, is wearable technology the new fountain of youth? Later, a look at how AI could shape the future of monetary policy. (Source: Bloomberg)
New York Post
18-07-2025
- New York Post
NY prisons' staffing woes helped drive overtime spending up to massive $445M: report
ALBANY – Understaffing in New York's beleaguered state prisons helped drive the state's massive overtime spending to the tune of $445 million — even before Gov. Kathy Hochul canned thousands more corrections officers amid an illegal strike earlier this year. The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision was the worst offender across state agencies in 2024, notching a nearly 21% increase in overtime costs compared to the year prior, according to a new report from the New York comptroller's office. State agencies overall continued to ramp up overtime spending last year by an eye-watering 10%, or nearly $1.3 billion, from 2023, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's report found. The DOCCS, the state's Office for People With Developmental Disabilities and the Office of Mental Health together accounted for roughly two-thirds of the overtime shelled out in 2024. And that was even prior to a massive illegal strike earlier this year that saw roughly 2,000 corrections officers canned, and a massive increase in spending. The state corrections department spent $445 million on overtime in 2024, per a report from the state comptroller's office. REUTERS 'Since 2023, the Corrections workforce has decreased by over 1,000. These combined factors indicate that a smaller pool of Corrections employees are working substantially more overtime hours to meet operational demands,' DiNapoli's report reads. A spokesman for the agency said the 2024 overtime spike 'was driven by the ongoing staffing crisis and the need to maintain the safety of staff and the incarcerated, while continuing to offer mandated programs, as well as other essential activities and services within DOCCS correctional facilities.' Hochul's budget office estimates the cost of running the prisons post-strike could reach upwards of $100 million per month as the system is still suffering from being massively short-staffed. That estimate includes overtime for corrections officers as well as the cost of backfilling understaffed facilities with national guard troops and other impacts. 'It's no surprise to see this,' state Sen. George Borello (Chautauqua) told The Post. 'The dangerous conditions created by pro-criminal laws passed by Democrats in state legislature combined with inept leadership of Gov. Hochul comes and a big cost. Not just dollars but in morale and public safety,' Borello said. After the DOCCS, the agencies with the largest overtime costs last year were the state police, the Department of Transportation and the State University of New York. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's report found that the state increased overtime spending around 3.7% in 2024, at the same time the state workforce has grown. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images The state's massive state workforce overall increased by about 5,300 workers in 2024 – a 3.7% growth rate from the year prior per the report. 'Overtime continued to grow in 2024 despite increases to a workforce that remains below pre-pandemic staffing levels,' DiNapoli wrote in a statement. 'New York needs to continue to attract and retain a range of diverse employees, and agencies need to ensure the use of overtime hours is justified and services are delivered safely and effectively for residents,' he said.
