New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul is backing away from her promise to ban some 2,000 correctional officers from ever working for New York State again after numerous county officials vowed to defy her order.
The executive order signed by Hochul on March 10 took aim at the thousands of officers who were continuing to strike over unsafe conditions in New York prisons, largely due to the Democrat-backed the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act (HALT). The legislation severely limits the use of “special housing unit” separation, which replaced solitary confinement.
As highlighted by The Daily Wire, officials in Chemung County, Oneida County, and Rensselaer County reacted quickly, indicating that they would outright defy the order or move to challenge it legally to regain control of their hiring processes. Hochul has also received backlash from the New York State Sheriffs’ Association.
Hochul’s administration has reportedly backed away from her order, which is set to expire on April 9. According to the Times Union, Hochul’s office was set to seek passage of a bill permanently banning the former officers from becoming re-certified as peace officers. However, sources close to the governor’s office say Hochul has walked back the threat, and former officers will likely be able to pursue re-certification as peace officers, which would allow them to work at county jails, the report said. Hochul, though, has said publicly that she won’t allow fired officers to return to work for a state agency.
Contributing to the apparent walk-back was Chemung County issuing a lawsuit earlier this month over the order, arguing that the order is unlawful. “We are taking this action to protect our ability to staff our jail with experienced personnel and to stand against unconstitutional overreach,” Sheriff William Schrom said.
In Oneida County, the Board of Legislators approved a resolution allowing them to sue New York State over Hochul’s order. County Executive Anthony Picente said the resolution was approved because lawmakers believe Hochul overstepped, Spectrum News reported.
“Executive order no. 47.3 is an abuse of the governor’s authority and discretion, and unlawfully intrudes upon the county’s powers of home rule,” Picente said.
Additionally, Steve McLaughlin, who serves as county executive for Rensselaer County, said he would outright defy the order, calling it “reprehensible and vicious.”
“Just when you think Hochul can’t get worse, she finds a way,” he posted to X, captioning the executive order signed by Hochul. “Preventing Corrections Officers from seeking employment with counties is reprehensible and vicious but that’s exactly who Kathy Hochul is.”
“Like I do with everything else regarding her idiotic statements and actions, I will ignore this as well,” he said. “I will hire as many as I can here in #RensselaerCounty and I dare you to sue me and the individual CO’s [sic] as they seek gainful employment Hochul.”
Related: NY Counties Defying Dem Governor After She Fired Corrections Officers
