ERIE COUNTY, NY – Despite the lateness of the hour and dwindling support in recent polls, Chris Collins is steadfastly holding on to his arrogant and shortsighted policies at the Erie County Holding Center.
“Suicides, lawsuits, missteps and backbreaking amounts of employee overtime are just a few of the lowlights of Collins’ reign of error at the County Jail,” said Peter Anderson, spokesman for the Mark Poloncarz campaign. “He has shown a complete disdain for employee safety, has denigrated human rights issues at the jail, and has attracted increased scrutiny through his arrogant, ‘you’re in my county’ approach. He’s clearly out of touch with how things are done in the 21st century, and yet he continues to alienate people.”
Inmate suicides have occurred with alarming frequency at the Holding Center during Collins’ tenure, a fact he shrugged off at a recent candidates’ debate at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute. His insensitivity also extends into his coldhearted treatment of deputies, forced to work double shifts and extended overtime in a costly and needless “solution” to staffing.
“Chris Collins continues to show where his real priorities are and it is becoming increasingly clear to voters that he doesn’t work for Erie County,” Anderson continued. “Mark Poloncarz has identified cost-effective ways to address staffing at the Holding Center, and won’t use denial as a problem-solving strategy. He won’t needlessly antagonize governmental partners, but will work with them to ensure compliance. Voters deserve a County Executive who works for them.”
In October, the Comptroller’s Office released a review of overtime costs at the Holding Center. Poloncarz found that by hiring 67 additional deputies/corrections officers would reduce skyrocketing overtime payments and could save $2.9 million over the next five years.
