Paterson: Deal in place to keep parks open

Governor David Paterson says an agreement is in place to keep all state parks open for the Memorial Day weekend.

This from the Associated Press:

"The Paterson administration has listed 41 parks and 14 of the state's 35 historic sites for closing, along with service cuts at others, to help close the state's budget gap.

"Speaking on WOR radio 710's 'The John Gambling Show,' Paterson said negotiations that ended early Thursday morning would provide $11 million for full operations this year, offset by money from the Environmental Protection Fund, which would be cut by about $74 million.

"Lawmakers, who wanted smaller EPF cuts and balked at Paterson's proposal earlier in the week, are expected to vote on the plan later in the day."

Organization calls for more state prisons to close

An advocacy group that played a key role in repealing the Rockefeller drug laws staged rallies over the weekend calling for more state prison closures throughout New York.

Robert Gangi is executive director of the New York Correctional Association and lead organizer for “Drop the Rock.” He says declining crime rates and smaller inmate populations mean more correctional facilities should be shut down.

Gangi says his group is looking to Governor David Paterson and the legislature to exercise leadership by saving taxpayer dollars and closing prisons that aren’t running at full capacity.

CSEA President calls Paterson's furlough plan 'nuts'

So Governor David Paterson released his furlough plan for state employees today.

Here are some of the details:

"Under the Governor's proposal, state agency commissioners will be given the discretion to schedule their employees' one furlough day per week, beginning the week of May 10. Employees will not come to work on their furlough day and will not be paid for their furlough day. Employees would not be allowed to charge their accruals to offset this salary reduction and agencies would not be able to use overtime to make up for loss of productivity."

John Brown Farm slated for closure

This is by no means the first place you'll read this -- but officials confirmed yesterday that the John Brown Farm historic site in Lake Placid is slated for closure in Governor David Paterson's 2010-2011 Executive Budget.

However, North Elba Town Supervisor Roby Politi told me Thursday there's "no way we'll let the John Brown Farm close."

"I see it as an opportunity for the community," he said. "If in fact the Governor decides to cut those kinds of costs, this is a perfect fit for the town of North Elba because we have a designated Park District here that was established for the 1932 Olympics. Those lands adjoin the John Brown Farm. If the state decides this is the route they want to go, the town of North Elba would certainly step up to the plate and takeover that facility."

It was also rumored the Crown Point historic site would close, too. My colleague Jon Alexander did some digging Friday, and told me that was not the case and the site was not listed among the 41 parks and historic sites released yesterday.