Hon. Robert Doherty, Chair Sullivan County Legislature
July 15, 2020
Dear Sir:
I write to oppose the transfer of the Adult Care Center at Sunset Lake to an LDC, and its eventual sale. Clearly, it is the desire of this legislature to shield the public from the facts and circumstances surrounding this proposed sale. Also clearly, this legislature has identified potential suitors that it refuses to publicly identify. The sale of this facility, an asset to our County, in this time when the healthcare of our residents should be of paramount concern is baffling to me, and to our Committee.
What we do know about privatization of these facilities is this: Patients suffer. Those are our neighbors, our fathers, our mothers and our friends. They will suffer for this action…and we will not forget who did this to them…to their parents…to their loved ones.
Private operators do so for profit. Plain and simple. To do that, they will limit staffing, buy inferior supplies and focus only on private pay residents. Those without the means to pay for a bed, those most in need will be passed over in the name of profit.
While there may be management issues within the facility, it is time that each member of this legislature rolls up their sleeves to fix these issues, not cut and run. It costs the average household less than $80.00 each year to fund the Care Center. Many other publicly run nursing homes run at a profit. Either way, this facility is a bargain at twice the price. If it weren’t, there would be no suitors to take it over.
What does it say to your constituents, that in the same year that the Sheriff moved into a hundred plus million dollar facility, you are willing to deny their loved ones a care facility, you are willing to cut the jobs of those caring for our most vulnerable and finally, you are doing it with virtually no input from the public and virtually no discussion amongst your peers or consultants.
Clearly other municipalities are able to run their facilities at a profit. Orange County has done just that after its residents demanded that their government do better. What is clear from the last two weeks is that your residents are demanding the same thing. That you do your job, not use your position to sell off our assets to friends. Fix the Care Center. Don’t sell it.
Steven Vegliante Chair