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| Assemblymember Addie Russell, Fort Drum Garrison Commander Colonel Gary A. Rosenberg, and Fort Drum Commanding General Major General Stephen J. Townsend met with Speaker of the Assembly Carl E. Heastie in March to discuss how to avoid cuts to the installation. |
The Army announced today that Fort Drum will retain the vast
majority of its personnel, losing a few dozen soldiers as the Army reduces the
size of its active force.
“I’m proud of the work done by local organizers to
demonstrate the value of Fort Drum, both to the North Country, to the entire
state of New York and our national defense. This was truly a team effort,”
Assemblymember Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, said. “The community came together
around this crucial strategic installation and enlisted the invaluable assistance
of our state and federal leaders who rallied around Fort Drum alongside us. I
want to thank state Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie for his support and our representatives
in Washington, D.C., from senior Senator Charles Schumer - who has led the
fight to preserve Ft. Drum, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Representative
Elise Stefanik, for their efforts in protecting Fort Drum.”
The installation faced a potentially devastating loss of
16,000 civilian and Army personnel out of roughly 21,000, a blow that would
have crippled the North Country’s economy and hindered our ability to respond
to threats to our nation and democratic values.
Russell cautioned that although today’s news is positive,
the community can’t afford to let its guard down.
“While I’m thankful Fort Drum didn’t see the worst-case
scenario come to pass, this latest cut is particularly painful because it was
self-inflicted,” she said. “I will continue to work with local, state, and
national leaders to stand in the way of future cuts, and I’m confident our
representatives in Washington will join us. Without a long-term solution to
sequestration we will have to keep up our advocacy for the soldiers at Fort
Drum – for their sake, for the sake of our families, and for our national
defense.”