Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Erie County Legislator Lindsay Lorigo (R) wants Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz to not follow through on an order similar to that of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, the ban of hiring corrections officers fired for striking last month.
"This is ridiculous," said Lorigo in an interview with WBEN. "It's a terrible policy for the county to be taking. We should be doing what we can to support these corrections officers who are just crying out for humane work conditions. We shouldn't be saying that you can't come and work for the county or for the town."
Lorigo says the county, at the Sheriff's Office and jail management should know it needs more people to apply to civil service jobs, and shouldn't be turning these people away.
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Lorigo strongly disgrees with Hochul's policy at the state level.
"It is just her doubling down on the mistreatment that she's had towards these officers," Lorigo claimed. "We should be working with them, not against them. We know that in the corrections field, specifically, they don't have enough people to staff the prison, so firing over 2,000 people and telling them they can't apply for a job at any level of local government is just outrageous. It's a terrible move."
Lorigo adds Hochul's order sunsets on April 9, but Poloncarz is calling on this to be in effect indefinitely.
She is hopeful, though, that legislators on the other side of the aisle will support the resolution.
"It'll be interesting to see where they stand on it. I am hopeful, because we were able to come together with a resolution supporting the corrections officers, calling for the repeal of the HALT Act. I am hopeful that they can come across the aisle and, you know, do what's best for the corrections officers in our district," Lorigo said.
The legislature meets next Thursday.