New York state officials on Monday moved to close three prisons in upstate New York, citing a declining prison population and the cost savings of about $89 million. 

The state Department of Corrections and Commnunity Supervision is moving to shutter the Watertown Correctional Facility, the Gowanda Correctional Facility and the Clinton Annex in the latest round of prison closures in New York. The move is angering state lawmakers who represent the area as well as the union that represent corrections officers. 

The state's prison population has declined over the last 10 years by more than 22,000 people, a reduction of 39% and its lowest level in 20 years, DOCCS officials said. New York has undergone a series of prison closures and consolidations during Cuomo's time office and further closures were telegraphed in the state budget earlier this year in March. 

"While conducting the review, DOCCS based the decision on a variety of factors, including but not limited to physical infrastructure, program offerings, facility security level, specialized medical and mental health services, other facilities in the area to minimize the impact to staff, potential reuse options and areas of the State where prior closures have occurred in order to minimize the impact to communities," said DOCCS spokesman Thomas Mailey. "With the closure of these two facilities and the Clinton-Annex, we will be able to absorb the incarcerated population into vacant beds available at other institutions. These closures will result in an annual savings of approximately $89 million and a reduction of around 2,750 beds."

The state "will work closely" with bargaining units for job placement through transfers. 

The Clinton Annex has a staff of 277 people; Gowanda 671 workers; Watertown has staff of 306 people. 

New York State Corrections Officers PBA President Michael Powers blasted the move for its economic impact on upstate communities as the Christmas holiday was getting underway.

“Upstate communities were struggling even before the onset of COVID-19," he said. "Removing hundreds of jobs within these localities will be a crippling financial blow. And to deliver this news just days before Christmas is flat out wrong. We’ll continue to fight for our members and the communities where they live."

State lawmakers also protested the decision, including Democratic Assemblyman Billy Jones, a former corrections officer.

“The hardworking men and women who work at Clinton Annex have been on the frontlines throughout this pandemic and they did not deserve this slap in the face right before the holidays, he said.