Senator Nozzolio Demands Governor Paterson Eliminate Funding For Five Points Conjugal Visit Trailers

Romulus- State Senator Mike Nozzolio today blasted Governor Paterson for an appropriation in his Executive Budget authorizing Five Points Correctional Facility to spend nearly $ 800,000.00 on 2 double-wide trailers to be used for conjugal visits for inmates incarcerated at Five Points.

“This is a blatant waste of taxpayer dollars at a time when the people of New York can least afford it,” said Senator Nozzolio, “During these difficult economic times, when critical care services are being cut, teachers are being laid off, our State Parks are closing and state refund checks are being held hostage by the State, it is simply unconscionable that the Governor would authorize such an outrageous expenditure of taxpayer dollars."

Governor Paterson’s 2010-2011 Executive Budget also calls for more than $1 billion in new taxes and fees and $ 5 billion in new spending. It calls for the closure of four Upstate prison facilities and penalizes the hardworking, law abiding citizens of New York State. It is ironic that at the same time that the Governor seeks to close prisons as a way to save taxpayers money, he would authorize spending for such a controversial new program at Five Points.

Senator Nozzolio has demanded that Governor Paterson immediately withdraw the appropriation to pay for this program. “This is a clear case of misplaced priorities. While our hardworking taxpayers are struggling to make ends meet, Governor Paterson has decided that the luxuries of convicted criminals are more important,” Senator Nozzolio commented.

The Five Points Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison, which incarcerates only serious, and often violent criminals serving extended sentences for their crimes. "$ 800,000.00 would go a long way in providing job creation incentives for businesses in the Finger Lakes area and in providing tax relief for our already overburdened taxpayers," said Senator Nozzolio.

“There is no excuse for Governor Paterson and the Department of Corrections to allow this proposed expenditure to go forward. We must critically examine every dollar that Albany spends and clearly this is a program that New York State can afford to eliminate,” concluded Senator Nozzolio.