Democrats sink Valley View sale
By Edie Johnson
GOSHEN — The whipsaw history of Valley View continued Thursday, when the county executive's all-out effort to sell the nursing home was blocked by the legislature.
Ten Republicans were joined by one Democrat and one Independent to transfer the county-owned home to a Local Development Corporation (LDC) for eventual sale to a private owner. But they did not have the supermajority needed to disband a county department. This requirement of the county charter was tested earlier this year, when an identical 9-12 vote to transfer the home was later overturned in a challenge brought by workers, residents, and families.
There was much speculation about how differently legislators, especially Democrats, might vote this time. But Democrats held firm, delivering nine votes while losing Curlie Dillard of Newburgh to the Republican side, as happened in April. The Democrats were joined, as before, by Republican Michael Anagnostakis of New Windsor, who chairs the Health and Mental Health Committee and has long championed keeping Valley View under county ownership.
Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus has been trying hard since taking office in January to get Valley View off the county books. He had campaigned on saving Valley View but changed his position upon taking office, saying a huge budget deficit made selling the home necessary.
The public tells their stories
A standing-room-only crowd of Valley View supporters held a passionate three-hour debate with the full legislature before it got down to a vote.
Several veterans spoke in support of the 80 veterans now living at Valley View. Rows of uniformed veterans gave them a standing ovation.
"Eighty of our brothers and sisters fought," said Harry Nolty Jr., a Vietnam veteran. "Some died so you can sit there and speak English rather than German, Korean, or Japanese. To take the home of those veterans, some of which have signed their homes over to Orange County for the right to live there, is unthinkable."
He urged legislators: "Use your intelligence. Come together and work out the finances."
Legislator Dennis Simmons (R-Port Jervis), who supports selling, said that as a veteran involved in veterans' programs, he was insulted at having his patriotism questioned. He pointed to failed negotiations with union workers as a major reason to sell. (The union denies that any negotiations took place.)
Another speaker talked about the sacrifices he and his wife are making to care for his mother-in-law, who has advancing dementia. They desperately need a break, he said, but don't dare admit their mother to Valley View until they're sure it will remain in county hands.
As in past sessions about Valley View, workers and relatives told stories of the exceptional care their loved ones received there. But this time they also expressed concern about the poor ratings given other facilities, and especially one owned by a bidder preferred by the county executive. One speaker referenced the October arrest of a worker at a Utica "one-star facility," owned by the bidder, for sexual abuse.
Legislators: New approach needed
Thursday's vote was the latest development in a long-running contest of wills between legislators and the county executive's office, even before Neuhaus became executive. His predecessor, Edward Diana, was similarly intent on unloading the home, which he too considered an unsustainable burden for the county. But his many efforts also failed through lack of legislative support and various court rulings.
Shannon Wong (D-Goshen) said there needed to be more consensus — whether to downsize Valley View and send some residents to Touro medical facility, as recommended by Jeff Berkman (D-Middletown), or the proposal by Myrna Kemnitz (D-Woodbury) to expand the most profitable areas of residential care at Valley View, such as short-term rehabilitation and assisted living.
Mike Amo (I-Monroe), one of the biggest supporters of selling, said the county's "sale or no sale" approach may be wrong-headed. What legislators should be asking, he said, is, "How can we better assist residents to age in place at home, and how can we better help families to care for them?"
Editor's note: See related stories on how legislators' voted and the arguments for and against selling the nursing home.