Did Neuhaus campaign on Valley View transfer?

GOSHEN — Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus was pleased with the legislature's decision last week to transfer Valley View nursing home to a local development corporation (LDC), the first step toward selling the facility to a private buyer.

In a statement released after the vote, he said, "I stated during my campaign that I would seek to transfer Valley View to a local development corporation because I believe it is a way we can keep Valley View open and provide care to seniors for years to come."

But county residents were blind-sided by his announcement in March that he would transfer the nursing home to an LDC. More than 600 residents turned out for the April 4 public hearing on the LDC idea, with many speakers accusing Neuhaus of breaking a campaign promise.

Did Neuhaus advocate the LDC transfer during his campaign? His spokesperson, Dain Pascocello, says he did — in another newspaper back in October.

Candidate Neuhaus stressed making Valley View more efficient and economical by negotiating with the union and fighting Albany for better Medicare reimbursements. But he gave up the fight — if there ever was one — less than two months into his administration. He moved at breakneck speed to put the LDC idea to a vote by the legislature, bypassing the legislative committee that oversees Valley View. Its chair, Republican Michael Anagnostakis, called this move "a mockery of the legislative process."

Much confusion stems from Neuhaus' oft-repeated promise, which he continues to make, that the nursing home will stay open. When he made the promise during his campaign, people assumed the nursing home would stay under county control. Otherwise, how could the county guarantee that another owner will keep it open, not to mention as well-run and affordable as it is now?

All this remains to be seen.
See timeline for Neuhaus' statements about the future of Valley View.