New York's decision to close two maximum-security prisons this fall has left small towns like Comstock in Washington County facing an uncertain future.
The state announced Thursday that Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Washington County and Sullivan Correctional Facility in Sullivan County will close Nov. 6, eliminating over 900 jobs. For Comstock, a town that has long relied on the prison for economic stability, the closure threatens to turn it into a ghost town.
Rich Straub, owner of Time Served Bar and Grill, fears the worst.
"I figure I'm going to be going out of business," Straub said. "It's going to hurt everything in this town."
The Straub family also owns five apartments rented to correctional officers. With the prison's closure, they worry the units will soon be empty.
What You Need To Know
- New York is closing Great Meadow and Sullivan Correctional Facilities on Nov. 6
- The closures will eliminate over 900 jobs and significantly impact local economies
- The decision is driven by declining inmate populations and ongoing staffing shortages
- Local businesses and residents are concerned about the town’s future viability
The impact extends beyond housing and hospitality. Even the local post office, which relies heavily on inmate packages, could be affected. While the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) offers staff the option to transfer to other facilities, the long-term implications for local economies remain a pressing concern.
As Comstock braces for the November closure, residents are left wondering about their town's future.
"I don't know how we're going to get others to come in," Straub said. "There's nothing to attract them to this town."
The closures are part of a larger trend in New York, which has shut down 25 correctional facilities over the past 15 years. According to DOCCS, the state’s incarcerated population has decreased by more than 54% since its peak in 1999.