Are you aware that today marks the second anniversary of Governor Kathy Hochul’s signing of the disastrous "Less is More" parole reform law?
Yep! That's right, it's been two years and the Public Employees Federation (PEF) has done nothing to repeal "Less is More.”
In fact, PEF supports parts of "Less is More" like providing earned time credits for adhering to a parole plan and ensuring parolees have expedited revocation proceedings.
What’s worse, PEF endorsed all politicians who sponsored the controversial law like disgraced former Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin and NYS Senator Julia Salazar to name a few.
Furthermore, PEF used members’ hard earned dues to fund some of their campaigns. No wonder PEF has not been vocal against “Less is More” in the media.
Recently, the New York Post wrote an informative article about the horrors of "Less is More.” Click on the link below to read the article.
https://nypost.com/2023/05/27/the-less-is-more-poison-fruit-of-criminal-justice-reform/
Thanks to "Less is More", on April 26, 2023 in Albany, NY, parolee Taquan Hassell held his parole officer hostage during a home visit. Luckily, the Parole Officer was able to talk the parolee down and leave his residence unscathed.
https://wnyt.com/top-stories/cohoes-man-accused-of-holding-parole-officer-hostage-appears-in-court/
Then, on August 9, 2023 in Staten Island, NY, parolee Luis Hernandez punched a Senior Parole Officer in the face. He assaulted the female officer as she was attempting to handcuff him at the Staten Island parole office.
The officer, as she fell, became hooked to the defendant’s clothing and, in his escaping the facility, she was dragged along the pavement, according to a criminal complaint.
The officer’s injuries included a concussion, bruised eyes, a slanted nose, lacerations and bleeding to her ankles, redness on her chest and a swollen finger. We hope that both officers are doing well.
In protest of PEF and its support of "Less is More", we're asking all active Parole Officers, Senior Parole Officers and Parole Revocation Specialists to click on the following link https://www.optouttoday.com/pef to stop paying PEF dues. We deserve to be represented by a law enforcement union.
As an alternative, we believe that the powerful New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) will better represent our interests and provide Parole Officers with the necessary support and benefits.
It's not uncommon for workers to switch unions if they believe another union can better address their specific needs or if they find common ground with a different group of workers.
In closing, to ensure that PEF hears our voices loud and clear, please email this update to PEF president Wayne Spence at WSpence@pef.org.
In solidarity,
New York State Parole Officers