People in Malone said they were surprised to hear that the Bare Hill Correctional Facility would be closing next year after an announcement from the New York state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision on Tuesday morning.NBC5 spoke with several people in the area Tuesday, and we heard that some corrections officers are distraught about the news, particularly with the announcement coming right before the holidays.”One of my very first customers this morning came in and was looking around and wanted a little something to brighten up someone’s day,” said Debbie Wilcox, owner of Nelson’s Flower Shop in Malone. “We talked a little more, and she was sending it to a good friend of hers who works at Bare Hill.”DOCCS said the closure comes after the New York state budget was approved and what they called a careful review of its 42 correctional facilities.”We’ve heard the information coming down the pipeline for so many months,” said Malone Mayor Andrea Dumas. “We’re just a little shocked that they did it a week before Thanksgiving.”Bare Hill is one of the correctional facilities where officers went on strike in March.DOCCS said the review was based on a variety of factors including available beds, physical infrastructure and program offerings. No Bare Hill staff members felt comfortable speaking on camera about the announcement. They said they need permission from the commissioner.But local small business owners said they worry the decision will have a ripple effect on Malone’s economy.”My first reaction was kind of shocked,” said Chris Beebe, owner of The Pines Tap and Table. “I mean, it’s been talked about for a little while, but owning a business right next to all of the facilities … my initial thought was, ‘How will this, in the long run, affect not only my business, but potentially the economics of the town?'”Beebe said he does a lot of business with both the officers and civilians at Bare Hill, including both lunch and dinner deliveries. Beebe said his restaurant also hosts a lot of events for Bare Hill, such as holiday and retirement parties.”Honestly, I can’t believe that they would be shutting the prison down around here,” said Brent Douglas, owner of Tattoos by Brent. “It doesn’t make sense.”DOCCS said that the nearly 300 staff at Bare Hill will be offered positions at other facilities and that the prisoners will be transferred to nearby correctional facilities in Franklin, Essex and Clinton counties.Mayor Dumas said Bare Hill has been a huge part of Malone’s community.”Our prison facilities are the bread and butter of our community,” said Dumas. “We’re a small community. Malone welcomed these prisons back 20 some years ago, and we’ve been a part of a correctional facility community. And now watching one of our facilities actually close, it’s devasting.”Dumas said she thinks this closure could ultimately cost taxpayers in Malone more money, without money from Bare Hill contributing to the village of Malone’s budget.The prison will officially close on March 11. We’re not exactly sure what the facility will be used for after that, but DOCCS said they plan to keep it maintained.
People in Malone said they were surprised to hear that the Bare Hill Correctional Facility would be closing next year after an announcement from the New York state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision on Tuesday morning.
NBC5 spoke with several people in the area Tuesday, and we heard that some corrections officers are distraught about the news, particularly with the announcement coming right before the holidays.
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“One of my very first customers this morning came in and was looking around and wanted a little something to brighten up someone’s day,” said Debbie Wilcox, owner of Nelson’s Flower Shop in Malone. “We talked a little more, and she was sending it to a good friend of hers who works at Bare Hill.”
DOCCS said the closure comes after the New York state budget was approved and what they called a careful review of its 42 correctional facilities.
“We’ve heard the information coming down the pipeline for so many months,” said Malone Mayor Andrea Dumas. “We’re just a little shocked that they did it a week before Thanksgiving.”
Bare Hill is one of the correctional facilities where officers went on strike in March.
DOCCS said the review was based on a variety of factors including available beds, physical infrastructure and program offerings.
No Bare Hill staff members felt comfortable speaking on camera about the announcement. They said they need permission from the commissioner.
But local small business owners said they worry the decision will have a ripple effect on Malone’s economy.
“My first reaction was kind of shocked,” said Chris Beebe, owner of The Pines Tap and Table. “I mean, it’s been talked about for a little while, but owning a business right next to all of the facilities … my initial thought was, ‘How will this, in the long run, affect not only my business, but potentially the economics of the town?'”
Beebe said he does a lot of business with both the officers and civilians at Bare Hill, including both lunch and dinner deliveries. Beebe said his restaurant also hosts a lot of events for Bare Hill, such as holiday and retirement parties.
“Honestly, I can’t believe that they would be shutting the prison down around here,” said Brent Douglas, owner of Tattoos by Brent. “It doesn’t make sense.”
DOCCS said that the nearly 300 staff at Bare Hill will be offered positions at other facilities and that the prisoners will be transferred to nearby correctional facilities in Franklin, Essex and Clinton counties.
Mayor Dumas said Bare Hill has been a huge part of Malone’s community.
“Our prison facilities are the bread and butter of our community,” said Dumas. “We’re a small community. Malone welcomed these prisons back 20 some years ago, and we’ve been a part of a correctional facility community. And now watching one of our facilities actually close, it’s devasting.”
Dumas said she thinks this closure could ultimately cost taxpayers in Malone more money, without money from Bare Hill contributing to the village of Malone’s budget.
The prison will officially close on March 11. We’re not exactly sure what the facility will be used for after that, but DOCCS said they plan to keep it maintained.
