📰 SHERIFF SQUARES OFF WITH GOVERNOR
“Political Class Ruining State,” Says Sheriff Akshar
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — In a scathing, candid address to the public, Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar took aim at top state leadership, declaring that the “political class in Albany continues to destroy the great state of New York.”
Taking direct aim at Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James, Akshar criticized recent mandates and state directives—including efforts to restrict local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities—as “gross displays of political stunts and partisan grandstanding.”
🗣️ “I Don’t Answer to Kathy Hochul”
Reflecting on his duty as an elected constitutional officer, Sheriff Akshar emphasized that local law enforcement priorities will always belong to Southern Tier residents over political agendas originating in Albany.
“I don’t answer to Kathy Hochul. I don’t answer to Tish James,” Akshar stated. “I answer to the great people of Broome County who afforded me an opportunity to administer this office.”
Addressing public safety and local jail policies, the Sheriff took an unyielding stance on high-risk offenders and community safety:
“If there is a very dangerous person in this jail, and the expectation is that I’m going to release that person back out into the community—I’m not doing that. I’m just not going to do that to the people of Broome County.”
🏛️ High Taxes, Out-Migration, and Public Safety
Connecting recent legislative directives to a broader pattern of statewide decline, Akshar highlighted several core issues driving frustration across Upstate New York:
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High Cost of Living: Citing New York’s status as having the highest taxes in the nation alongside significant population out-migration.
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Public Safety Mandates: Pointing to policies that he argues “put criminals over law-abiding New Yorkers.”
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Executive Double Standards: Calling Albany’s stance “hypocrisy at its finest” for demanding local compliance with state orders while directing agencies to bypass federal laws passed by Congress.
⚖️ The Duty to Enforce vs. Constitutional Challenges
Drawing from his past experience as a New York State Senator, Akshar pointed out that enforcing laws passed by the legislature is his job—regardless of personal belief. He cited the legalization of recreational marijuana, a policy he opposed while in the Senate but now administers without hesitation as Sheriff.
However, when state mandates conflict with constitutional authority and federal statute, Akshar noted that local sheriffs across the state are preparing to draw a legal line in the sand.
“I suspect that the legality of the legislation will be challenged very soon by my colleagues, other sheriffs throughout this state,” Akshar revealed. “I think there is a very strong legal argument to be made about very specific violations of both the New York State Constitution and the United States Constitution.”
🔍 What Lies Ahead
With sheriffs statewide weighing court challenges against Albany’s latest directives, the divide between Upstate law enforcement and state leadership continues to widen.
For Broome County, Sheriff Akshar maintains that regardless of the legal battles looming in state courts, his administration’s focus remains fixed on keeping local neighborhoods safe, keeping dangerous offenders locked up, and serving the families of the Southern Tier.
📢 EDITOR’S NOTE: OUR POSITION
NewsXR neither endorses nor opposes either political side. We do not play party politics. However, immigration is strictly a federal matter, and an elected Sheriff has a sworn constitutional duty to uphold the rule of law and protect the community. Impeding or obstructing a law enforcement officer’s ability to fulfill that duty for political reasons is wrong—plain and simple. If something is wrong, it’s wrong, and we are going to say it.
