NYS Senator Backtracks On Pro-Slave Labor Tweet — ”I Don’t Support Slavery”
Sen. Fred Akshar criticized after poorly-timed tweet during Black History Month
BINGHAMTON (NY) — Friday afternoon, New York State District 52 Senator, Fred Akshar, tweeted his followers a link to a petition opposing the Prison Minimum Wage Act — legislation that would grant NYS prisoners a minimum wage of $3 per hour.
New York State Prisoners are currently among the lowest paid in the nation, with many making less than 20 cents an hour.
Within hours, dozens of followers and constituents began criticizing the tweet for blatantly supporting “slave wages.”
Sen. Fred Akshar responded by blocking multiple Black constituents and clarifying that he does not, in fact, support slavery.
He went on to add, “We have failed hardworking taxpayers, [and] continue to fail those with developmental and intellectual disabilities [and] those that are suffering from mental health issues and substance abuse issues.”
It’s worth noting that in Senator Akshar’s NYS Senate District, over 80% of incarcerated individuals “have substance abuse and/or mental health disorders.”
The local advocacy group, PLOT, reached out to Senator Akshar to ask how denying disabled inmates fair compensation for their labor would benefit their circumstances, or the circumstances of taxpayers. At the time of this writing, the Senator has not replied.
Senator Akshar is no stranger to controversy.
In November, a write-in campaign challenging his re-election bid resulted in an unlikely runner-up — Salladin Barton, who was killed in Broome County Jail while Akshar was serving as Captain of Law Enforcement and Undersheriff.
And in July, it was reported that the Senator was having a sexual relationship with former staffer and current fiancée, Jessica Fiacco Williams, whose salary more than doubled during her time under Akshar.
-R.D.