Dear Nieces and Nephews,
What is it about Valley View, that this County
Administration cannot let go of the idea of selling
at least part of it? This time it is not about selling Valley View outright but
selling part of the land where Valley View is situated so that we find our
county government discussing Valley View yet again.
There was a meeting Wednesday of three legislative
committees where they discussed the sale or lease of 9 acres of land around Valley
View to provide additional healthcare services in a privately owned medical
building and possibly privately owned assisted living apartments.
“WHAT?” you say “Not only is this county-owned land but
there is a surfeit of medical services and privately owned assisted living facilities
right in the area.”
You would be correct. According to Healthgrades.com, there
are over 230 Family practitioners (GP’s) as well as over 900 Geriatric Medicine
Practitioners; 2350 Cardiologists and 1360 Oncologists in Goshen and immediate
area. There is Crystal Run Healthcare, Middletown Medical and Horizon Medical
(the big mega-doctor groups) each with offices all over the County. WHY would the
county get involved in that private issue competition by “sponsoring” another
Medical Practice? Hmmn? Who are they kidding?
And what is the opinion of Hal Teitelbaum, CEO of Crystal
Run Healthcare in this matter? Crystal Run currently provides healthcare to the
residents of Valley View. Are the Crystal Run doctors not
meeting the needs of the Valley View patients?
“We
have over 300 exceptional providers in over 40 medical specialties with
multiple practice locations focused on the healthcare needs of the mid-Hudson
Valley and lower Catskill region.” http://www.crystalrunhealthcare.com/aco-info
And why do the bid specifications indicate that this “award”
will not necessarily go to the highest bidder for the land?
Don’t be surprised if the names of FOCUS, TOURO COLLEGE or
JONAH “Senior housing” MENDELBAUM spring up. Somehow they all are determined to
make a profit in this county WITH the County Government’s help.
Katie Bonnelli, Chairman of the Rules Committee and one who
has never even been to Valley View, was quoted in the midhudsonneus.com
KATIE SAID: “Doing
programs such as, maybe, assisted living* and
different types of programs that are
currently not offered at Valley View. This is no way in competition with Valley
View; that is not what we are looking for. We are just trying to enhance the care that we would give overall to people in need in Orange County and that would
include veterans as well.”
This statement not only shows a lack of understanding
regarding Valley View and the healthcare system but we believe it to be disingenuous
as well.
HOW does the sale of the nine acres to a private entity enhance the care for “people
in need” and veterans? Private
medical entities do NOT have to accept ALL health insurance plans and there may
not be a Medicaid certified bed available in a private assisted living facility.
And veterans? Veterans usually go the VA Clinic in Goshen or to a VA hospital
for serious medical issues.
Also, Katie, there are many assisted living facilities
nearby and one right in Goshen! So again, why would the county get involved in
a private competition?
How exactly would
such a facility benefit the residents of Valley View?
Programs? To what
programs are you referring, Katie? Miniature Golf?
And what if these purchasers supposedly constructing this “medical
facility” decide to just flip the land once they own it? (Now, if you said Hal Teitelbaum’s
Crystal Run would buy the nine acres, then it would be more than likely to be a
medical facility, since he has successfully established such facilities
in the county and beyond.)
What is this medical complex going to provide that is not
already available? This makes no sense at all.
Valley View is minutes away from Orange Regional Medical
Center; close to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Warwick. Are we to believe that
Stevie Wonder is suddenly so concerned about Valley View residents that he
wants a medical complex only a stone’s throw away?
So, What’s the advantage? There are a number of scenarios
but it is not about healthcare.
Is it really about Sewer and Water capacity? Are there any
restrictions on future utilization of such capacity by purchasers of this land?
And just WHO/WHAT would be able to tap into this system or utilize this water/sewer
infrastructure besides the purchasers? If the new owners flipped the land, just
who would be in possession of the water and sewer capacity?
Is it a back door for Mandelbaum to build his 55+ active
senior living communities as he has done in Goshen on Railroad Ave, Warwick and
other nearby locations? And how many tax breaks would he get for this one?
Maybe, he would receive some benefit from the OC IDA ! (grantor of monies to the
bankrupt Continental Organics in New Windsor-jobs, jobs, jobs!)
Or maybe it’s both. Jonah wanted to purchase 80+ acres of farmland
on 17A in Goshen for a Senior Living project but because there was not water and sewer capacity available,
the project was denied. Perhaps he would be interested in Valley View land for
his project.? Also Jonah and Stevie have a history going back to Steve’s days
in the Village of Walden.
Would this be setting a terrible precedent?
The Golden Triangle continues. Seller, Buyer and Broker, all
together. From left to right:
Steve Neuhaus,
Jonah Mendelbaum and Billy Deprospo
IF the land is sold, the losers are the residents of Valley View
and taxpayers of Orange County!
IF the county is sincere in its pursuit of “continuum of
care” and to convince us that this is not merely the first step in a multi-step,
piecemeal sale of the Valley View lands; the County Government will establish a
Conservation Easement on the rest of the land in the Valley View site to keep
it as green space or farmland, something that is disappearing rapidly in Orange
County, as we speak.
Think about it.
*Please note that “Assisted Living” facilities, while
housing “frail” patient types are NOT required to have medical staff on site. Not
even an RN. They are not medical facilities.
