In her executive budget, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed a resolution that would have enabled the redevelopment of three of the six shuttered prisons currently sitting, unused, in the Adirondack forest preserve.

The proposal wasn’t in the enacted budget and it’s not on track to pass before the end of session. It’s not clear why. 

But it’s been a priority for North Country lawmakers, including former state Assemblyman Billy Jones, for years. Jones left the Assembly in 2025 and is currently the vice president of strategic initiatives and workforce development at Clinton College in Plattsburgh.

“I applaud the governor for making an effort,” Jones told Capital Tonight.

Hochul’s resolution proposed removing Camp Gabriels Correctional Facility in Franklin County, Moriah Shock in Essex County and Mount McGregor Correctional Facility in Saratoga County from the zoning strictures of the forest preserve in exchange additional land.

According to Jones, who had pushed this amendment for years in the Assembly while he served in the Legislature, municipalities in the Adirondack Park are frustrated. 

“I can tell you, knowing these towns and knowing the locations of these [former prisons], I don’t believe that we would ever have an issue with an Amazon Warehouse or a Wal-Mart going in there,” he said, referencing a frequent concern cited by critics.  “It’s not an economic practicality.”

But the stage is set for North Country lawmakers to make a push for the amendment, once again, next session. 

State Sen. Dan Stec’s spokesman told Capital Tonight this was the sixth consecutive year his constitutional amendment had passed the state Senate. 

“So I can’t imagine we won’t go for lucky number seven next year,” he said.

Assemblyman Michael Cashman who represents the seat that Jones vacated is also on board.

“I will remain dogged in working on this issue with my colleagues across the aisle,” he told Capital Tonight.

Former Assemblyman Jones doesn’t believe the issue can be laid to rest until the state acts.

“It’s state property. It’s the state’s responsibility. And the state should be doing something about it instead of these buildings just rotting into the ground,” he said. “How environmentally sustainable is that?”