It came as a shock even to those working in Albany:
Word Thursday that Governor Andrew Cuomo is closing seven New York State prisons and Summit Shock is on the list.
Governor Cuomo said the move will save the state $184 million over the next two years.
Those savings don't include the tax breaks and $50 million he's promising communities affected by the closures-something that's already raising questions of what the real savings will be.
On the Governor's list to close beginning in 60 days along with Summit Shock are minimum security facilities Buffalo Work Release, Erie County; Camp Georgetown, Madison County; and Fulton Work Release, Bronx County; and medium security facilities Arthur Kill, Richmond County; Mid-Orange, Orange County; and Oneida, Oneida County.
Assemblyman Pete Lopez said he was as surprised by the Governor's decision as everyone else.
During budget talks, Assemblyman Lopez said, Governor Cuomo asked the Legislature for the authority to look at prison beds and to act if needed.
As part of the budget process, Assemblyman Lopez said, they agreed.
"But he [Governor Cuomo] was very savvy. He never identified the facilities that might be closed," Assemblyman Lopez said.
If he had, the Legislature would never have said yes, Assemblyman Lopez said.
Summit Shock employs 130 people, making it one of Schoharie County's biggest employers with some of the highest-paying jobs.
Alicia Terry, director of Planning and Development, said the closing caught her by surprise too.
"We heard a whisper Tuesday that Summit Shock might be on the short list, but it wasn't definitive," she said Friday.
Prison closures were mentioned in Governor Cuomo's first budge-cutting proposals in February, Ms. Terry said, but, "You always hope it's not going to be your community."
Harold Vroman, Summit supervisor and chairman of the Board of Supervisors, called the news "one more blow to Schoharie County."
"What are all the people who work there and their families going to do?" he asked.
Mr. Vroman said he had an "inkling" Summit Shock, which is actually located in the Town of Fulton, was on the Governor's list Wednesday night.
Tuesday, at 2:30pm, Assemblyman Lopez called with the news.
"It's going in impact the entire county," Mr. Vroman said. "The people who work at Summit Shock buy their gas here, they spend other money here. And they put a lot of mail through the Summit Post Office. What's going to happen there?"
Phil Skowfoe, Fulton supervisor, said he's angry there was no warning of the closures.
"I don't like the way this came down at all," he said. "Layoffs aren't the way to go...They just create more problems. And jobs like these? They won't come back. That's the scary part."
In talking to Assemblyman Lopez, Mr. Skowfoe said, "I didn't get any hope" [that the Governor's decision could be changed. "I don't know if he gave Harold any..."
Letters to the Governor, however, are probably worth a try, Mr. Skowfoe said, and he's already asked Democratic Chairman Cliff Hay and Republican Chairman Lewis Wilson for their help.
Mr. Vroman has already sent a letter to Governor Cuomo asking him to reconsider. (See page 4.)
"I just can't imagine," Mr. Skowfoe added. "Something like this and no notice."

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